Millions of Americans are not receiving the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine, says CDC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA suggest that millions of Americans are not receiving their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

More than five million people, or nearly 8 percent of those who got a first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, have missed their second doses, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports the New York Times.

That is more than double the rate among people who got inoculated in the first several weeks of the nationwide vaccine campaign.

According to data published by Johns Hopkins University, more than 26% of the US population has been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus so far, . That figure represents about 85 million people, reports the Business Insider.

In intervews with the New York Times, a growning number of Americans showed several reasons not to receive the second dose of the vaccine. 

Some Americans stated that they donot want to experience any potential side effects while others feel that one dose should be enough to protect them against the virus.

While others stated that the reason behind not taking their designated second doses are barriers lile insufficiend vaccine supply at pharmacies and in other vaccination camps, the Times reported.

Vaccines have been rolling out swiftly in the US since December, when Pfizer became the first company to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The company expects to have delivered 300 million doses by the end of July, reports the Business Insider.

Vaccinations have been staggered by groups at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Initial vaccines were given out to front-line responders like healthcare workers and people residing in long-term facilities like nursing homes.

Then, the CDC recommended vaccine providers prioritize people over the age of 75 and give them coronavirus vaccines. Some states like New York now allow all people 16 years or older to schedule and receive a vaccine, reports the Business Insider.

Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases specialist, said he predicts all kids will be able to receive a vaccine against the coronavirus by the beginning of 2022, marking another milestone in vaccine rollout.

In order to be fully vaccinated, individuals must receive two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Both have high efficacy rates, according to CDC data. CDC officials say getting both doses of either vaccine makes people up to 90% less likely to catch the virus, reports the Business Insider.

Nearly 32 million Americans have been infected with the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic last year, JHU data show. Of that, more than 571,000 Americans have died from Covid-19.