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Alabama distributed more than 137,000 doses of the vaccine last week, despite snow and ice that forced some clinics to close, especially in northern Alabama. That total was the second highest in the state to date in Alabama, and the trend is clearly on the rise.
More than 600,000 Alabamians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, or about 12.5% of the state’s population. More than 268,000 received both doses, or about 5.5% of the population.
“We’re very, very happy with what we’re doing,” Alabama state health official Dr. Scott Harris said Thursday.
The week before, Alabama set a new record by hosting large-scale drive-thru clinics and distributing more than 157,000 doses.
The latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that Alabama administered 864,757 doses of the vaccine on Friday, nearly 74 percent of the 1.1 million doses that have been delivered to the state.
Harris said the state would continue to receive approximately 90,000 to 100,000 first doses per week of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
If the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is approved by federal regulators in the coming days, as expected, it could give Alabamians a third option and further increase the supply of vaccines entering the state.
“We’re working really hard to get people at a very predictable allocation rate so that they know exactly how much they’re going to receive each week or each month,” Harris said. “This will make planning and scheduling users a lot easier.”
No clue when people with health problems can be added
Currently, many groups are officially invited to register at the hundreds of distribution points across the state. This includes medical workers, first responders, teachers, manufacturing workers, people over 65, transit workers, grocery store workers, and more.
Harris has not offered an estimate of when the state will shift its focus on the vaccine to the next group of people in the state’s immunization plan: people with health conditions that put them at risk. higher death or serious illness if they contract COVID.
That’s a huge number of people in Alabama. ADHD’s list of health problems includes common conditions such as obesity, diabetes, smoking, as well as cancer, lung conditions, and heart disease.
“People with chronic health conditions absolutely deserve to be vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Harris. “We are doing everything we can to get there as quickly as possible. The barrier has been that in Alabama we’re in an unhealthy state, you know, initially before COVID, and when you add this group of people with diabetes and heart disease, obesity, and chronic lung disease, these things that put them at high risk, you have more people than we are trying to vaccinate right now.
“You are more than doubling the size of the group of people. And so, it just isn’t fair to say to this group of people, “Okay, now you’re on the front line” when no additional vaccine is going into the state.
Harris’ message to the Alabamians is simple: keep trying.
“Please persevere,” he said. “Anyone who wants a shot is going to have a shot. We’re going to have enough for everyone who wants it, and there just isn’t enough for everyone yet. But keep checking with providers who have injections. “
Harris said people can check the ADHD website for a list and map of providers who offer the vaccine, including retail pharmacies like Walmart and CVS, as well as traditional clinics and health care facilities. ’emergency.
“Talk to doctors, clinics and pharmacies and urgent care in your community who have the vaccine,” Harris said.
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