Alabama will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 55 years and older, and for anyone over the age of 16 with certain health conditions, including heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes and more from March 22.
The Alabama Health Officer, dr. Scott Harris, announced the announcement Friday morning in Montgomery, saying the state will also offer the vaccine to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and that additional categories of essential workers will be listed in Phase 1C of the state’s vaccine. plan.
“We are concerned that many high-risk people and others doing close contact have not yet been eligible to receive the vaccine, but with the additional vaccine provision, we are better able to meet the needs of Alabama residents. to provide, “Governor Kay Ivey said. said in a news release. “From March 22, individuals can be assured that they will receive the shots they have been patiently waiting to receive.”
Alabama has distributed more than 1.2 million doses of the vaccine according to the numbers reported Friday morning, with more than 760,000 Alabamas receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.
“It’s an incredible amount of work done by an incredible group of people,” Harris said.
On March 22, people with the following conditions will be eligible for the vaccine:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD
- Heart conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy; immune disorder
- Fixed organ transplant
- Obesity, BMI greater than 30
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoke
- Type 1 and 2 diabetes
- Other medical conditions as determined by your medical provider
In addition, workers in the following fields are eligible for the vaccine:
- Transport and logistics
- Waste and wastewater
- Food service (restaurant staff included)
- Shelter and housing (construction)
- Finance (bank tellers)
- Information technology and communication
- Energy
- Legal
- Media
- Public safety (engineers)
Alabama veterans of any age can receive the vaccine at several VA hospitals across the state.
The move was announced a day after President Joe Biden promised to allow all adults to receive the vaccine by May 1.
Harris said expanding the qualification is likely to double the number of people eligible for the vaccine, but insists the vaccine will provide the new wave of people.
“People have been patient for so long and we’re really very, very close to having enough vaccine to go around,” Harris said. ‘I think in a month, probably, at least six weeks, there really will be more than enough
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to reach full effectiveness and have been authorized for emergency use in the United States since December 2020. A third vaccine, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, requires only a single dose and has recently received its emergency approval. February.
Harris said the supply of vaccines in Alabama is gradually increasing, and the state is expected to receive between 110,000 and 120,000 doses of vaccine per week, plus a separate grant sent by small federal pharmacies like Walmart and CVS.