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Alabama launched its long-awaited online COVID vaccine registration site yesterday, but it didn’t take long for many users to become frustrated with the lack of available appointments.
As of Tuesday morning, only 31 of Alabama’s 67 counties had available time slots for COVID vaccine registrations through the Department of Health and many of those appointments weren’t available until March or were just for women. follow-up doses.
Many users have questioned the effectiveness of the portal, which was first announced by Governor Kay Ivey in mid-January.
“Here is a portal to schedule appointments. Oh yeah, no dates in most counties. But hey, it’s a portal, ”one user wrote on the ADPH website. “So stand in line for hours IF there’s a drive-in clinic around you.”
The ADPH later said on social media that most “clinics and appointments in February are already booked (in) most counties using the limited supply” of vaccines and asked people to consult a different one. tab on the site that showed a list of clinical walk-in visits. You can see this link here. Clinics are listed by date (a site may be listed multiple times on different days) and some only do second doses.
Additional vaccine distribution sites – including pharmacies – are listed here.
The ADPH said that while nominations may not be available now, the agency “expects access to nominations to expand, particularly for priority populations as our federal government offering increases.
The portal allows people to confirm their eligibility and sign up for email notifications when the vaccine becomes available to other priority groups. Information about the vaccine product itself and what to expect is also provided.
Jefferson County, which does not post any available appointments on the Alabama Department of Public Health site, maintains its own vaccine registration here.
Vaccine pool expands by 1 million people next week
The pool of people eligible to receive the COVID vaccine in Alabama will soon grow much, much larger despite the lack of supply.
Alabama has started its vaccination program with frontline healthcare workers and those who work or live in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes. It has since spread to first responders, such as police and firefighters, as well as people aged 75 and over.
According to ADPH data, Alabama received 772,275 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and administered 359,589 with “demand greatly exceeding supply.” Alabama has more than 326,000 healthcare workers and nearly 350,000 people who are eligible for the vaccine because they are 75 years of age and older.
Beginning February 8, the state will expand the vaccine eligibility pool to those 65 years of age and older, teachers, prison officers, postal, manufacturing and food workers, and those who work in the judiciary. These additions are expected to include around 1 million people, despite a lack of vaccine supply.
The two COVID vaccines currently in use require two separate doses given 21-28 days apart and ADPH said its clinics “will likely focus heavily on providing second doses for the month of February.”
ADPH does not have a schedule as to when it will move on to the next phase of vaccination.
How to find a COVID vaccine in Alabama
1. Check with your county or other counties for appointments for the COVID vaccine through the ADPH Vaccine Planner website.
2. Check the schedule, hours and qualifications for drive-through or walk-in clinics through the ADPH website.
3. Check the list of other providers who have vaccines available. You can access this list here. (The link may redirect to walk-in sites. If this happens, click the tab at the bottom that says “Vaccine Providers in Alabama.”
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