Alabama rolls out coronavirus vaccine to 65+, teachers, grocery store workers, more



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Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health announced on Friday that people 65 and older and other groups would be eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

It starts on February 8.

The others who can be vaccinated, if they are not already eligible, from February 8 are:

First responders
Correctional officers
Food and agriculture workers
U.S. Postal Service Employees
Manufacturing workers
Grocery store employees
Transit workers
People who work in the education sector (teachers, support staff, community college and higher education)
Childcare staff
Judiciary (including, but not limited to) circuit judges, district judges and district attorneys

The state press release said the additional priority groups would add more than one million people eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Alabama. While just under 2 million people will be eligible to receive the vaccine, the state continues to receive only about 100,000 doses per week.

More version:

On Friday, 148,549 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 175,326 doses of the Moderna vaccine were distributed to first responders, residents and nursing home staff in Alabama, and people 75 years of age and older. A total of 772,275 vaccines have been delivered to Alabama, meaning that 42 percent of what has already been delivered to the state has been administered.

“We have all been frustrated that the supply of vaccines from the federal government has not kept up with the demand,” Governor Ivey said. “To be frank, we just didn’t get the vaccine we were promised, and that created a big worsening backlog. Today’s announcement will ensure that as new vaccines are released, we have a plan in place to get the vaccine into people’s arms faster.

This extended group covers persons at high risk of work-related exposure and persons belonging to age groups identified at risk of morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. These include people working or living in communities, including, but not limited to, homeless shelters and group homes.

“Alabama is extending its advice despite the limited vaccine to speed up vaccine uptake in our state,” said Dr. Scott Harris. “I want to reiterate that any remaining vaccines that have not been given are either someone’s first dose and they are waiting for their appointment or they are waiting for their second dose. Any vaccine currently in the state is named after someone. “

As a courtesy to others, healthier people 65 years of age and older and workers who belong to these groups are encouraged to consider delaying their vaccination so that more vulnerable people can access the vaccine before them.

To make an appointment for the free COVID-19 vaccination at a county health department, people can call the ADPH COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling hotline at 1-855-566-5333. For general information on COVID-19, the COVID-19 information hotline number is 1-800-270-7268. Vaccine vendors can be found in the Alabama COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Dashboard at arcg.is/OrCey.

ADPH expects a new online tool to be released next week that will provide information on vaccination opportunities, including drive-thru clinics planned statewide.



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