North Carolina is ranked first in the nation for vaccinating the largest share of its 65 and older population. That’s accordingto a report from The Kaiser Family Foundation. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports 49% of people 65 and older have been vaccinated. That rate does not include those in long-term care facilities. The state began offering the vaccine to those 65 and older in January. Older adults are at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. They make up more than 80 percent of coronavirus deaths in the state. As of today, North Carolina has administered more than 1.4 million first doses of vaccine and more than 2.3 million total doses.