Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi teachers and first responders will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Tuesday.

Vaccinations in Mississippi are currently available for people 65 and older, health care workers and those who are at least 16 and have health conditions that might make them more vulnerable to the virus.

Reeves said teachers and first responders put themselves at risk to support the community during the pandemic and deserve to be next in line.

Around 350,000 people in Mississippi have now received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of Tuesday, according to data from the state Department of Health.

Mississippi, a state with a population of around three million, has reported at least 291,000 cases of the virus and 6,577 related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

People eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine can make an appointment at COVIDvaccine.umc.edu or by calling the COVID-19 call center at 1-877-978-6453.