The Alabama Health Officer, dr. Scott Harris, said Alabama today received an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that Moderna made for each of the next three weeks.
This is in addition to what the state usually receives, which is about 50,000 to 60,000 for first doses and generally about 60,000 for second doses.
Harris said he plans to announce Friday that he will use the extra doses.
“We were very pleased to find out that Alabama, at least for the next three weeks, is receiving approximately 10,000 additional doses of Moderna,” Harris said. “So we’re going to try to deploy it on a large scale as quickly as possible.”
Harris spoke to lawmakers in Montgomery today during a budget hearing in preparation for the legislative session, which begins Tuesday.
Harris said the supply of vaccine is still not enough that is needed. Alabama gives vaccinations to health workers, people over 75 and first responders. Harris did not say when the next group, which is people between 65 and 74 years old, will expand.
Harris said he would give an update on it and more information on the deployment of the vaccine during a press conference Friday.
There are now about 700,000 people eligible for shots in Alabama. Harris said the 65-74 group would add at least hundreds of thousands. The amount of doses required is twice the eligible population, as both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two shots.
“We are now working to try to determine if there is enough capacity to deal with it,” Harris said. ‘We do not have much extra vaccine out there, but there may be a few.
‘I think the most important message to reach people is just because you hear you’re eligible, that does not mean there’s a vaccine for you. And if you really are not a high-risk person, and if you are a younger, healthier person who has the ability to stay home and not be in public, please wait. Let someone else out in the queue in front of you, someone who needs it more. ‘
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This story was corrected at 14:44 to say that the state receives vaccination for second doses, in addition to the 50,000 to 60,000 per week for first doses.