On Monday, January 18, Alabama is due to begin the next phase of the vaccine launch, for the first time by encouraging members of the general public, if they are old enough, to apply.
The state will officially enter phase 1b, not entirely, but will begin to accept two groups in 1b. They are people aged 75 or older and the first to respond, such as policemen and firefighters.
The rest of 1b, including essential workers and people in collective houses, will follow. The same can happen with people over 65. There was a third wave, group 1c, but the CDC recommended that all states be quicker to vaccinate anyone over 65.
But how many people are there in each of these groups in Alabama?
Being part of a specific group – such as frontline employees or people aged 75 and over – can put you closer to the frontline for the coronavirus vaccine. Here is an estimate of how many people are in each group. | Ramsey Archibald Illustration
Within each phase of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s vaccination distribution plan there are specific groups. The state estimates that there are about 347,000 people who are already eligible for the vaccine in phase 1a, which includes medical workers and people living or working in nursing homes.
ADPH estimates that there are about 350,000 people in Alabama aged 75 or older and another 501,000 between 65 and 74 years old. The state says phase 1b of the vaccine launch, including essential workers, includes 783,000 people – including about 40,000 people living or working in congregational settings, which includes group homes and homeless shelters.
Phase 1c will include another 775,000 people, including essential workers. And the state estimates that there are almost 1.9 million people in Alabama with one or more of the following conditions: obesity, diabetes, COPD, heart disease or chronic kidney disease.
If you add up all of those numbers, that equates to about 4.7 million Alabamians who will be eligible to receive a vaccine before the state can start turning to everyone else. But the number is not that high. This state is home to just 4.9 million people, and the total is inflated because people can be in more than one group – that is, a police officer with kidney disease or a surgeon aged 66.
So far, progress has been slow as Alabama has just vaccinated 2% of the population – the lowest rate in the country. But officials expect things to accelerate as levels expand and more people can apply.
To apply for a vaccine or find local contact information, click here.
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