Image: Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing COVID-19 vaccination distribution and administration as of December 27, 2021.

According to the data, the IHS has distributed 2,561,715 COVID-19 vaccine doses across 11 areas of Indian Country. Of that amount, 2,003,857 have been administered, representing 78.2 percent of the total.

The release of the data on December 27 marks the surpassing of 2 million vaccine doses administered within the IHS.

The number of vaccines distributed by the IHS increased by more than 2.9 percent, according to a comparison of data from December 13. Meanwhile, the number of vaccines administered grew by 2.7 percent when compared to two weeks prior.

The Oklahoma City Area, where COVID-19 cases increased considerably following the availability of the vaccine, continues to account for the most vaccines received (624,690) and administered (483,834). The Navajo Area, where the pandemic has exacted a disproportionate toll since the spring of 2020, comes in second (379,265 distributed, 342,126 administered) while the California Area comes in third (299,645 distributed, 199,988 administered).

In all three areas, the number of doses administered, as well as the number of doses distributed, increased from the week prior. The three regions account for the largest number of IHS users, with the Phoenix Area also accounting for a large number (281,360 distributed, 226,038 administered). The Phoenix Area has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 as well.

#COVID19 booster shots are now available for everyone ages 16+, at least 6 months after completing a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series or at least 2 months after receiving a J&J vaccine. At this time, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized & recommended for adolescents ages 16-17. pic.twitter.com/lLv549a9KJ

— IndianHealthService (@IHSgov) December 17, 2021

According to the IHS, vaccination distribution and administration will be updated weekly across the 11 areas that are receiving doses directly from the agency. However, data does not appear to have been released in the week immediately preceding the Christmas holiday.

Tribal health facilities in Alaska have chosen to receive their COVID-19 vaccine supplies from the state, so their region is not included in the data.

COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration by IHS Area

As of December 27, 2021, the IHS is distributing all three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized or approved in the U.S, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. The table below shows the total number of vaccine doses distributed and administered to date, per IHS Area, for facilities that chose to receive vaccine through the IHS jurisdiction. The data includes COVID-19 vaccinations administered to all ages and specialty groups authorized for emergency use or fully licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The IHS administration rate is 78 percent. The IHS jurisdiction is administering all available full doses in accordance with FDA guidance.

*Distributed Data Source: IHS National Supply Service Center, includes total doses ordered and delivered by December 24, 2021, to facilities that chose the IHS jurisdiction for vaccine distribution.

**Administered Data Source: Data is reported from the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) and IHS Central Aggregator Service (CAS). Data may be different than data on the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker due to lags and ongoing quality review of data, including resolving data errors.

Note: The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Administration by IHS Area data is only reflective of facilities that chose the IHS jurisdiction for vaccine distribution. Alaska Area data is not reported as all tribes chose to receive COVID-19 vaccine from the State of Alaska. The Tucson Area data only includes one tribe that chose the IHS jurisdiction for vaccine distribution.

Source: Indian Health Service (https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus)