[ad_1]
Alabama will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 55 years of age and older, and anyone over 16 with certain health conditions, including heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, etc. obesity, diabetes and more from March 22.
Alabama state health official Dr Scott Harris made the announcement during a press briefing Friday morning in Montgomery, saying the state will also offer the vaccine to people with developmental disabilities. and developmental, as well as additional categories of essential workers listed in the state’s Phase 1C vaccine. plan.
“We are concerned that many high-risk people and others engaged in close contact work have not yet been eligible to receive the vaccine, but with the additional vaccine supply we are better off. able to meet the needs of Alabama residents, ”Governor Kay Ivey said in a press release. “From March 22, people can rest assured that they will receive the vaccines they are patiently waiting to get vaccinated.”
Alabama has distributed more than 1.2 million doses of the vaccine according to figures reported Friday morning, with more than 760,000 Alabamians having received at least one dose of the vaccine.
“It’s an incredible amount of work done by an incredible group of people,” said Harris.
On March 22, people with the following conditions will be eligible for the vaccine:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Heart disease such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies; immunocompromised state
- Solid organ transplant
- Obesity, BMI over 30
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell anemia
- Smoking
- Type 1 and 2 diabetes
- Other medical conditions determined by your healthcare provider
In addition, workers in the following fields will be eligible for the vaccine:
- Transport and logistics
- Waste and sewage
- Food service (includes restaurant staff)
- Shelter and housing (construction)
- Finance (bank tellers)
- Information technology and communication
- Energy
- Legal
- Media
- Public safety (engineers)
Alabama veterans of any age can receive the vaccine at several VA hospitals across the state.
The move was announced a day after President Joe Biden pledged to make all adults eligible to receive the vaccine by May 1.
Harris said expanding eligibility would likely double the number of people eligible for the vaccine, but urged patience as the new wave of people are offered the vaccine.
“People have been patient for so long and we’re really, very, very close to having enough vaccines for everyone,” Harris said. “I think in a month, probably, six weeks at least, there will be a
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to achieve full effectiveness and have been cleared for emergency use in the United States since December 2020. A third vaccine, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, requires only one dose and has been obtained its emergency authorization belatedly. February.
Harris said the supply of vaccines in Alabama has gradually increased, with the state expected to receive between 110,000 and 120,000 doses of vaccine per week, plus a separate allowance sent to retail pharmacies like Walmart and CVS through a federal program.
[ad_2]
Source link