The pace of COVID-19 vaccines in Alabama is increasing.
Today’s Alabama Department of Public Health update shows that the state administered 41,778 coronavirus vaccines in the week ending Jan. 9. Of these recent vaccines, 22,228 were Pfizer branded; 19,550 were manufactured by Moderna. Altogether, Alabama has administered 87,138 COVID-19 vaccines – about 32% of its total quota – since its program began in the week of December 12, 2020.
Frontline health professionals were the first to receive the vaccine, followed by the first respondents. As of January 18, the state is expanding its program to include people aged 75 and over and more categories of essential workers.
This planned launch had its problems, however. On its first day of operation, the state’s COVID-19 vaccination hotline received more than 1.1 million calls, as many people complained that they were unable to contact anyone to schedule their appointment. Hospitals were flooded with connections and state officials pointed out that the demand for vaccines still outstrips supply.
There are about 300,000 health professionals in the state and 350,000 people aged 75 and over who qualify for the vaccine, according to ADPH. Alabama’s vaccine quota was 271,925.
On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that the state will launch a website for online vaccine registration, but she has not given a start date.