As a native West Virginian, I usually grit my teeth and wince when I see my home state making national headlines.
My state consistently tops the lists for poor health, a struggling education system, and high poverty rates. However, this time, West Virginians are at the top of a list they can be proud of — West Virginia is leading the nation in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout!
While many states are suffering from rising coronavirus cases, expiring vaccines, and increased hospitalizations and deaths, West Virginia is on a different trajectory. Thanks in part to its successful vaccine rollout, West Virginia’s COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are all decreasing while its vaccination rate climbs. As of Feb. 17, nearly 253,000 people had received their first vaccine dose, while over 145,000 people had received their second dose. Keep in mind that the state has a modest population of just under 1.8 million. This means around 8% of the population is fully vaccinated. The Mountain State’s vaccine success story is a testament to tailoring solutions to fit local needs rather than accepting top-down guidance from Washington.
West Virginia is the only state to say no to the federal scheme to partner with corporate giants like CVS to vaccinate residents at long-term care facilities, where the virus has proven especially deadly. Given the lack of chain pharmacies and the state’s largely rural population, our leaders recognized that the federal plan would not work. Instead, they turned to the trusted mom-and-pop pharmacies that already support communities.
The National Guard established five distribution centers that place the vaccine within a maximum of two hours of driving time from anywhere in the state. As a result, West Virginia has vaccinated over 81% of its nursing home residents so far, according to Gov. Jim Justice, and over 61% of nursing home staff.
The state’s coronavirus czar Clay Marsh chalks their success up to localism.
“We believe, in order to best meet the needs of our citizens, we need local involvement at many levels,” he said. “You have to be able to become agile and respond.” And that’s exactly what both government leaders and healthcare workers are doing. Like the rest of the nation, West Virginia still does not have enough vaccinations to go around. However, it turns out that the Pfizer vaccine vials contain an extra dose, so healthcare workers can sometimes administer six doses rather than five per vial. This resourceful method, now followed by other states, has raised the vaccination administration rate to 108.1%.
The lesson here is clear: One size fits all guidance from Washington rarely provides the best solution. Whether it’s crafting policies for education, energy, or, in this case, healthcare, state leaders around the country must take responsibility, lead, and develop individual strategies.
Nickie Deahl is a native West Virginian, a Young Voices contributor, and a legislative intern at the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Her views are her own and do not reflect her employer’s. Find her on Twitter @NickieDeahl.
