Mississippi to get nearly $200M for testing, vaccinations

Posted: Jan 8, 2021 / 04:27 PM CST / Updated: Jan 8, 2021 / 04:27 PM CST

A member of the Mississippi National Guard receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in his arm, by a fellow guard member, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Flowood, Miss. One hundred doses of the vaccine were administered to both Mississippi Air and Army National Guard service members who serve as first responders and currently assist with the administering of the COVID-19 test at Mississippi Department of Health drive through community testing sites across the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi will receive close to $200 million from the federal government for coronavirus testing and vaccinations.

The state is to receive $171.3 million for testing. Mississippi will see $26.8 million for vaccinations. U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith says the cash influx will help “control this virus.”

The state Health Department reported Friday that Mississippi had 2,175 new confirmed cases of the virus as of Thursday evening. The department also reported 40 deaths.

The state has reported nearly 233,665 cases of the virus and 5,101 deaths from it since the start of the pandemic.

Mississippi Air Guard Tech. Sgt. Exstrella Smith withdraws a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for injection into the arm of a Mississippi Air or Army National Guard service member who serves as a first responder, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Flowood, Miss. One hundred doses of the vaccine were administered to both Mississippi Air and Army National Guard service members who currently assist with the administering of the COVID-19 test at Mississippi Department of Health drive through community testing sites across the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
A member of the Mississippi National Guard receives a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in his arm, by a fellow guard member, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Flowood, Miss. One hundred doses of the vaccine were administered to both Mississippi Air and Army National Guard service members who serve as first responders and currently assist with the administering of the COVID-19 test at Mississippi Department of Health drive through community testing sites across the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Maj. Michael Childress receives a bandage from Sgt. Christian Minor after being inoculated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Mississippi National Guard’s 172d Airlift Wing facility in Flowood, Miss., Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. One hundred doses of the vaccine were administered to both Mississippi Air and Army National Guard service members who serve as first responders and currently assist with the administering of the COVID-19 test at Mississippi Department of Health drive through community testing sites across the state. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Members of the Mississippi Air and Army National Guard Guard receive the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Flowood, Miss., Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. One hundred doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were administered to both service members who serve as first responders and assist with the administering of the COVID-19 test at Mississippi Department of Health drive through community testing sites across the state. Other guard men and women assisting with the testing and delivering of personal protective gear will receive their inoculations when more doses are provided. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)