At least two counties in Alabama are now offering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone over 75.
Health officials in Calhoun County announced on Tuesday that anyone over 75 could get the vaccine, creating long lines at the Anniston City Meeting Center, reports the Anniston Star. The vaccine will be offered there to anyone over 75, Wednesday and Thursday, from 7 am to 3 pm
Etowah County has taken it a step further, also opening its most recent vaccine clinic to anyone in Phase 1b of the Alabama Vaccine Allocation Plan, which includes people over 75, plus essential workers such as teachers, first responders such as firefighters and law enforcement officers, who were not included in 1st, and people living in congregated environments, such as prisons, homeless shelters or group homes.
Most of the state is offering the vaccine only to people in Phase 1a, who are frontline healthcare professionals, people who provide direct patient care, mortuary services and people who live in long-term care facilities such as homes of elderly people.
But these two counties made the decision this week to open vaccination for an additional population.
Etowah County Emergency Management Agency director Deborah Gaither said the county decided to move to Phase 1b on Monday night, after a vaccination clinic administered the first dose of the vaccine to 250 of the emergency workers. County 1a health care.
Gaither said the early hours of Thursday’s clinic are being reserved for Phase 1a health workers who have not yet received the vaccine through their employer.
“We are asking our rescuers and health professionals to come between 7 am and 9 am,” said Gaither. “And then everyone else who fits in 1a and 1b, including our elderly adults aged 75 and over, must come after 9 am”
The clinic will be held Thursday at The Venue at Coosa Landing at 201 George Wallace Drive in Gadsden. It is not necessary to make an appointment.
Phase 1b includes teachers and some other essential workers, but Gaither also requested that only those most at risk due to age or a pre-existing condition appear on Thursday.
“For teachers, what we are asking for now, because we have a drastically low amount of vaccine, are school nurses and teachers or support staff with comorbidities or weakened immune systems [get vaccinated Thursday]and in three to four weeks, we will be able to complete the rest of the teachers, ”said Gaither.
After Phase 1b, Alabama health departments will move to Phase 1c, which includes people aged 65 and over, people with certain pre-existing conditions and other categories of essential workers.
* Corrected at 4:21 pm to indicate that people with pre-existing illnesses would be included in Phase 1c of Alabama vaccine allocation plan.