ALABAMA, USA — Although the vaccine rollout is ramping up, Alabama is still in the bottom five states for doses administered according to the CDC.
Because other states are already offering COVID vaccines to people of all ages, Alabamians are taking road trips to get vaccinated sooner.
ADPH Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers said, "Certainly we'd like for people to be vaccinated in their own state, but we have people coming from other states to Alabama as well."
Dr. Landers says early on several people came to Alabama to get the shot because the state offered COVID vaccinations to teachers fairly early. Now that other states have expanded eligibility, they aren't seeing as many people cross state lines for the vaccine.
While there are no rules that say you cannot be vaccinated in another state, Dr. Landers says it can create problems for people when it's time for the second shot.
"Occasionally if people cross state lines and then go back, sometimes they're not able to get their second dose," said Dr. Landers. "We have had to make some adjustments in our own situation to be able to get those persons their second dose here in Alabama."
Dr. Landers says Alabama is steadily getting more vaccine doses and bringing on more federal providers through the Federal Pharmacy Retail Program.
"Once they're here in the state, that just adds to our vaccine supply," said Dr. Landers.
Although Alabama is currently lagging behind in total doses administered, Dr. Landers says the state is actually doing very well in one area many other states aren't.
"Alabama is actually ninth in the nation for vaccinating its most vulnerable citizens," said Dr. Landers. "We have an allocation plan, and we've followed it throughout."
While demand still outweighs supply, some clinics in North Alabama are rushing to give shots before they go bad.
There are long waiting lists in some larger cities, but some clinics in rural areas are trying to get people to come last minute to be vaccinated. This could be because fewer people in those rural areas are making vaccine appointments.
Dr. Landers says ADPH has not thrown out any vaccine and is working hard to ensure no vaccine dose is wasted.
Dr. Landers said, "Any product that we've had not be able to be used really has been related to not being able to pull a sixth dose out of a Pfizer vial or have leakage at the hub with the needle that does occasionally happen."
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be stored in freezers for six months. Once thawed, they must be administered relatively quickly.
If you are eligible to get the vaccine, you can make an appointment with Alabama Public Health online.
Click here to check availability and schedule an appointment.
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