MONTGOMERY-Getting COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of Alabamians as quickly as possible is our goal.ADPH is conducting clinics daily, including drive-through clinics in some counties.COVID-19 Cases—549,394
COVID-19 Deaths—11,328
COVID-19 Hospitalizations (as of June 23)—50,590
Currently eligible for vaccine—everyone 12 years of age and older
Vaccine Doses Administered—3,189,633
Vaccine Doses Delivered to Alabama—4,575,925
Alabama Healthcare Providers Enrolled—1,387
Texting and WhatsApp Resources for Locating COVID-19 Vaccine
Finding a COVID-19 vaccination location near you is easy and available on multiple platforms. Text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233. Another exciting effort is underway to help connect people with vaccine resources and information: the CDC’s new Spanish-language vaccine finder on WhatsApp. You can try it by texting the word “hola” as a WhatsApp message to the CDC at 1-833-636-1122.
COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives
Companies across the United States are offering rewards to their vaccinated customers and employees. These include free rides to-and-from your vaccine appointments and free childcare for parents and caregivers to get vaccinated and recuperate. Visit the COVID-19 vaccine incentives page at www.vaccines.gov/incentives.
Vaccine Scheduling Assistance for Close Contacts of Someone Positively Diagnosed with COVID-19
In collaboration with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is providing assistance to many in our state seeking vaccine appointments or locations. If you are a close contact of someone who was positively diagnosed with COVID-19, you may receive a telephone call from a UAB representative. The caller will be able to provide assistance in finding a vaccination location nearby.
Delta Variant B.1.617.2
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated the Delta variant, which is also known as B.1.617.2, as a variant of concern. This means the CDC officially recognizes that the variant may carry a risk of more severe illness and transmissibility. The Delta variant, which first emerged in India, now accounts for about 20% of new U.S. cases. The number of cases of Delta in the U.S are likely to be higher, as not all SARS-CoV-2 specimens are sequenced. The variant is highly contagious and has the potential to infect more persons, resulting in more hospitalizations and deaths. At the moment, data indicates that two doses of Pfizer vaccine are 88% protective against the virus. The two other COVID 19 vaccines, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are likely to be effective against this variant as well. The message about this variant, as well as other variants, is that the more persons who are vaccinated, the less likely the opportunity for variants to emerge. Now is a critical time for persons in Alabama to take advantage of the multiple opportunities to be vaccinated.
National Month of Action Continues Through July Fourth
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) joins in encouraging everyone in the state to work toward the goal of having 70 percent of U.S. adults getting at least one COVID-19 vaccination by July Fourth. President Biden announced the National Month of Action initiative which encourages national organizations, local government leaders, community-based and faith-based partners, businesses, employers, social media influencers, celebrities, athletes, colleges, young people, and thousands of volunteers across the nation to work together to get their communities vaccinated. Decreasing numbers of Alabama residents are being vaccinated even though vaccines are available, so promotions and actions are needed now to defeat COVID-19. Visit www.alcovidvaccine.govto find a place to get vaccinated nearby.
Media Release/ Alabama Department of Public Health
