vaccinations

Vaccination rates low in county, state

Pictured are workers at the Fayette County Health Department administering COVID-19 vaccinations during one of its “drive-through” clinics in January. The local health department is currently offering walk-in vaccinations without appointments on Fridays from 1 - 2:30 p.m.

Pictured are workers at the Fayette County Health Department administering COVID-19 vaccinations during one of its “drive-through” clinics in January. The local health department is currently offering walk-in vaccinations without appointments on Fridays from 1 - 2:30 p.m.

After battling with Mississippi the past couple of weeks in a neck-to-neck race, Alabama now holds the dubious distinction of having the lowest COVID vaccination rate in the nation. That distinction is nothing to brag about, as the state is currently seeing the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations rise again after a few months of relative calm. Adding to the concern is a new, more contagious version of the COVID virus, the highly infectious Delta variant.

Alabama to expand eligibility for COVID vaccines

Shown are healthcare workers administering vaccines at the Fayette Health Department.

Shown are healthcare workers administering vaccines at the Fayette Health Department.

Beginning Feb. 8, Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health is expanding the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccinations. The state announced a few weeks ago that people 75 years of age and older would be eligible to receive the vaccines. The new directive makes the vaccines available for people 65 years of age and older, and frontline workers within one of the following categories:
• First responders;
• Corrections officers;
•Food and agriculture worker;
• U.S. Postal Service workers;
• Manufacturing workers;
• Grocery store workers;

Alabama lags behind other states in vaccinations

Shown are healthcare personnel giving COVID-19 vaccinations at a “drive-through” clinic at the Fayette Health Department on Monday, Jan. 18.

Shown are healthcare personnel giving COVID-19 vaccinations at a “drive-through” clinic at the Fayette Health Department on Monday, Jan. 18.

Despite a recent increase in coronavirus vaccinations within Alabama, a poll stated that Alabama ranks last in vaccinations received within the nation. Vaccinations began Monday, Jan. 18 at the Fayette County Health Department for people 75 years of age and older. A steady line of recipients waited patiently for the vaccines at the health department on the first day they were available.

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