Alabama will expand on Monday who is eligible to receive immunizations against COVID-19, but health officials have warned that there is still not enough vaccine for everyone who qualifies for an injection.
As of Monday, everyone aged 65 or over; educators; grocery workers; some manufacturing workers; public transport workers; agricultural employees; State legislators and constitutional officials will be eligible to obtain vaccines. Previously, only health professionals, first responders, nursing home residents and people aged 75 and over were eligible.
“If you are eligible for a vaccine, we will give you one if you want to get it. But it will not happen immediately for everyone. It will be a while before we have enough, ”Dr. Scott Harris, state health officer, told reporters on Friday.
Harris said that about 1.5 million people will be eligible for vaccines.
The Alabama Department of Public Health website has a map of providers that provide injections.
The state is opening major drive-thru clinics in eight cities: Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma and Tuscaloosa.
Harris said it would take 3 million doses to give 1.5 million people the two injections needed for maximum protection. The state has already received 923,750 doses and is receiving about 70,000 a week. To date, 436,962 doses have been administered. Harris said the remaining doses are named after someone in consultations and clinics for a first or second injection.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has announced that it is opening a third clinic, this one at Parker High School, for vaccination. People do not need to be UAB patients, but they must fit into the state eligibility group.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has asked people in the city to be vaccinated.
“We are not out of danger yet. So, I really want to encourage the citizens of Birmingham to take advantage of this website, ”said Woodfin.
More than 8,500 people in Alabama died of COVID-19, including confirmed and probable cases. More than 472,000 had positive results.
Although the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms for most people, it can be deadly for the elderly and people with serious health problems, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.