Just over 20,000 of Alabama’s 128,175 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, according to a new tracker launched by state health officials.
The new Alabama Department of Public Health panel shows that the state administered 8,986 vaccines in the week ending December 20 and another 11,368 in the week ending December 27. The vast majority of vaccines – about 18,000 – were vaccines from Pfizer. The rest were from Moderna. Vaccines are being administered at 90 sites across the state.
The information is part of ADPH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Panel here.
The state is currently in the first phase of vaccine distribution, which covers frontline health workers and those who live or work in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The state’s initial vaccine quota will cover less than half of the 300,000 Alabamians who fall into the first category.
Additional vaccine allocations – both of which require two doses about 21-28 days apart – are expected to arrive weekly. ADPH said it will post on its website when the vaccine pool expands.
“We want to manage people’s expectations properly and remind the public that not everyone can access the vaccine right now. For the New Year holidays and beyond, I encourage people to stay home and keep their events short, outside when possible, and just with everyone wearing masks, ”said state health officer Dr. Scott Harris.
ADPH does not have a specific timetable for when members of the general public can be vaccinated.