MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Dept. of Public Health has received a massive response to its rollout of the next phase of its vaccine distribution.
Appointments are only available through ADPH, which is asking people to please not call their local hospitals.
Local hospitals are being overwhelmed by phone calls, which is affecting patient care to both COVID-19 patients as well as responding to all other medical needs of our citizens.
You can request to be put on an appointment waiting list here.
ADPH says that while hospitals in a few areas of the state have begun vaccinating those 75 years of age and older, most are still working to make sure their frontline workers are vaccinated. Additional information will be provided when hospitals and locations other than county health departments have vaccine available for additional groups.
According to ADPH, the COVID Vaccine Scheduling Hotline received over 338,000 calls within its first few hours of operation. They are rapidly adding staff to assist callers and ask for your patience.
If you get a busy signal, you are encouraged to call back later.
Governor Kay Ivey and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris announced that COVID vaccines will be available to Alabamians 75 or older and first responders starting on Jan. 18.
Vaccination will be available by appointment only, and official admit that demand exceeds supply.
“We recognize that demand for vaccine exceeds supply,” said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. “While there is still an insufficient amount of the vaccine supply, we want to maximize our resources to help protect Alabamians at high risk. County health departments are working with their local points of distribution to assess what their vaccination reach has been. Decisions about the next groups to vaccinate are made at the community level with community engagement. If the very high-risk population has been covered adequately, providers can then begin vaccinating people in the other priority groups.”
To schedule an appointment for the free COVID-19 vaccination, individuals may call the ADPH toll-free phone number at 1-855-566-5333. Telephone calls are answered from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week.
Vaccination locations can be viewed here. Additional specific information, such as what to bring and what to wear, will be provided when appointments are made.
RELATED: COVID vaccine update: Free vaccines for people 75+ and first responders in Alabama start Jan. 18
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