MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama will be getting more COVID vaccine. Governor Kay Ivey made the announcement after a conference call with the National Governors Association on Tuesday.
According to the governor's office, the National Governors Association met to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine distribution with officials in the new administration, specifically Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 Coordinator.
After the meeting, Governor Ivey said that the federal government will be slightly increasing Alabama's vaccine distribution and the distribution will be based off each state’s population level.
Alabama also has the flexibility to redistribute unused doses from the federal pharmacy program for long term care facilities to reallocate for the general population.
Ivey said of the changes, "I’m pleased that Alabama will receive a slight increase in our vaccine supply. Any margin of increase is appreciated, but we have a long way to go to be able to provide them to any Alabamian who wants one. Along with Dr. Harris, I’ll continue to advocate to our federal partners that we must be more efficient in shipping these to the states in order for us to get shots in arms."
Currently, Alabama is in Phase 1b, distributing Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to Alabamians 75 or older, and first responders as well as Phase 1a health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.
Vaccinations are by appointment only and there is a waiting list for appointments. Every Monday, the Alabama Dept. of Public Health updates its COVID vaccination dashboard with availability of vaccine, how many people have been vaccinated, and vaccine locations.
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