HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Decatur-Morgan Hospital saw six COVID-19 deaths over the weekend, the hospital's chief nursing officer said at Monday's COVID-19 briefing. Doctors with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) say the area is still facing an ICU shortage.
"Statewide we only have 3% of ICU availability, and we have minus 2% in this region, which means we have more beds taken up than we have actual beds," said ADPH District Medical Officer Dr. Wes Stubblefield.
Tragically, doctors say COVID-19 deaths are freeing up ICU beds for other COVID patients.
"Remember these are someone's children, someone's parents, someone's grandparents," said Stubblefield.
Hospitals and doctors continue to feel the pressure not just from the large number of patients they are taking care of, but also due to those who they could not take care of.
On September 22, the FDA approved Pfizer COVID vaccine booster shots and guidelines have been put in place.
"For boosters to be given to those that completed their series with the Pfizer vaccine, as long as it's been six months since that completed dose. Now, this is different than the third dose, which is for people that might not mount an inappropriate immune response, those that are immunocompromised," said Stubblefield.
Decatur Morgan has a lot of these boosters for those who are eligible. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
As officials have been saying for weeks, the majority of those hospitalized with COVID are not vaccinated.
Medical professionals continue to recommend people to get the COVID vaccine if they have not yet done so.