PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – South Dakota is in the top three states nationally in percentages of COVID-19 vaccinations.

State Health Department Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon says the numbers have expanded rapidly in the last week.

Malsam-Rysdon says the federal government has changed the rules on distributing the vaccines.

Malsam-Rysdon says they plan to move on to the next phase of vaccinations, with the “1-D” group.

The department estimates there could be over 250,000 people that qualify for the “1-D” group.