MONTGOMERY-Getting COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of Alabamians as quickly as possible is our goal. ADPH is conducting clinics daily, including drive-though clinics in some counties. Limited vaccine remains the greatest challenge in Alabama and other states.COVID-19 Cases—488,973
COVID-19 Deaths—9,660
COVID-19 Hospitalizations (as of February 22)—45,128
Beginning February 8, vaccine eligibility expanded to include phase 1b and people 65 years and older. The Alabama COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Plan outlines the various phases, and is available here:
www.alabamapublichealth.gov/
Average 1stDoses of Vaccine Shipped to Alabama Per Week—90,000
Vaccine Doses Administered—790,427
Vaccine Doses Delivered to Alabama—1,036,645
Alabama Healthcare Providers Enrolled—1,094
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program Expansion
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program will be expanding soon, adding new COVID-19 vaccine sites at additional Walmart locations throughout the state. There are also discussions to bring another partner on board, which would provide even more vaccine locations throughout the state. Additional information will be announced on the new locations once allocation confirmation is complete.
Continue to Follow Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
The public is reminded to continue following measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 which consist of either cough or shortness of breath (difficulty breathing) or at least two of the following: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, and new loss of taste or smell. These measures prevent the spread of COVID-19:
· Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
· Social distance by staying 6 feet away from others
· Avoid people who are sick
· Stay home if you can; work remotely if possible
· Cover your mouth and nose with a face covering when around others
· Cover coughs and sneezes
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
· Monitor your health and get tested if symptoms develop
Inclement Weather Vaccine Shipments
ADPH continues to work with McKesson Corporation to have vaccine shipments that were cancelled last week due to inclement weather reshipped. All county health departments throughout the state are operational and working hard to reschedule second doses. The CDC states that if a delay occurs in the normal schedule for receiving a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.
Media Release/Alabama Department of Public Health
