Less than 3% of Ark. population has received COVID-19 vaccine Less than three percent of Ark. population have received the vaccine; officials react By Logan Whaley | January 11, 2021 at 10:27 PM CST - Updated January 12 at 6:21 AM JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Weeks after many healthcare providers received the first doses of the vaccine, Arkansas remains in phase 1-A of administering the shot. According to the Arkansas Dept. of Health, over 84,000 Arkansans have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Thatâs less than 3 percent of the stateâs population. Dr. Shane Speights, dean of the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State, says the reason for the slow rollout nationwide is a bit complicated.