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—501,398
COVID-19 Deaths—10,222
COVID-19 Hospitalizations (as of March 9)—46,173
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—100,000-110,000
Vaccine Doses Administered—1,142,270
Vaccine Doses Delivered to Alabama—1,692,665
Alabama Healthcare Providers Enrolled—1,159
Efforts to Achieve Vaccine Equity in Black Belt Counties Yield Positive Results – At Least One in Five Residents of 19 Alabama Counties Vaccinated
Twenty percent or more of the residents age 16 and older of 19 Alabama counties have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine to date. Successful public health efforts to achieve vaccine equity have resulted in higher vaccine uptake among African American residents of Black Belt counties. Counties where 20 percent or more of their residents have been vaccinated are as follows: Perry, Wilcox, Conecuh, Dallas, Hale, Clarke, Monroe, Marengo, Washington, Lee, Bullock, Tallapoosa, Henry, Macon, Houston, Colbert, Cullman, Baldwin, and Lauderdale. Vaccines are one key to protecting the most vulnerable and helping stop the pandemic in Alabama. Supply remains an issue, as there is not yet enough vaccine available for everyone who would like to be vaccinated.
CDC Team to Gather Information in Black Belt About How to Improve Vaccine Confidence and Uptake
A five-member team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in Alabama to explore local approaches on how to improve vaccine confidence. Team members will talk with local residents, community and faith leaders, and health care workers to understand their perspectives and suggestions on how to ensure high uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, especially in Black communities. Efforts will focus on identifying common questions and concerns or other barriers to uptake that residents have, addressing them through community outreach solutions, and promoting information sharing about the benefits and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, so that everyone is protected from the virus. The team will begin in Sumter County and move on to other Black Belt counties. The CDC team is expected to be in the state for the next three weeks.
People Who Previously Received Passive Antibody Therapy
Currently, there are no data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in people who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as part of COVID-19 treatment. Based on the estimated half-life of such therapies and evidence suggesting that reinfection is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection, vaccination should be deferred for at least 90 days. This is a precautionary measure until additional information becomes available, to avoid potential interference of the antibody therapy with vaccine-induced immune responses. This recommendation applies to people who receive passive antibody therapy before receiving any vaccine dose and to those who receive passive antibody therapy after the first dose of an mRNA vaccine but before the second dose, in which case the second dose should be deferred for at least 90 days following receipt of the antibody therapy. Receipt of passive antibody therapy in the past 90 days is not a contraindication to receipt of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine doses received within 90 days after receipt of passive antibody therapy do not need to be repeated.
Spring Break Gatherings Can Drive Up COVID-19 Cases
COVID-19 continues actively circulating in Alabama, including the more transmissible B.1.1.7 (UK) variant. Spring breakers and their families are reminded that all precautions should be taken during this time if we want to continue the downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases. Spring break trips to locations where crowds of people from throughout the county gather can lead to more infections, especially as the variants threaten. The risk of closer contact with others, especially when combined with increased alcohol use, can lead to asymptomatic spread. Even though COVID-19 cases are decreasing, it is extremely important that everyone continue to follow mitigation standards during spring break and at other seasonal gatherings. Students and their families need to do their part and do the right thing by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently. Caution and vigilance are still needed.
Media Release/Alabama Department of Public Health
