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Mayor Battle, faith leaders facing backlash after getting COVID vaccine

Mayor Battle says he and the six faith leaders were vaccinated to show the public the vaccine is safe.

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and six North Alabama faith leaders are facing backlash after rolling up their sleeves to get the first dose of the COVID vaccine on Wednesday.

Shortly after posting the news to Facebook, the City of Huntsville received several angry comments saying these leaders jumped to the front of the line.

RELATED: Mayor Battle, faith-based leaders roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated and encourage communities of color

One person commented, "I have to wait maybe months, I'm over 72 with preexisting conditions, so should they have to wait!"

The City explained on Facebook that minorities in Huntsville are hesitant about getting the vaccine.

Mayor Battle says he and faith leaders have been talking since last December and were vaccinated to show the public the vaccine is safe.

Battle said, "Ministers in the Black community came to us and said a lot of our community doesn't trust this and they are not going to take this shot."

Alabama is in phase 1b of their vaccination plan, which includes people 75 and older, first responders, and those working or living in congregate settings.

Click here for the ADPH vaccination plan updated on January 26, 2021.

Many of the comments point out that people in phase 1-b are still unable to get the shot and that teachers need to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

One person commented, "Faith leaders are nowhere near the danger educators are in, and they have a choice to minister virtually. Teachers are not given that choice at all."

Vaccine doses are limited right now. State health leaders say supply is the main problem in trying to get more people vaccinated.

RELATED: Alabama to receive more COVID vaccine, more flexibility to allocate supplies

Mayor Battle says once vaccine doses are widely available, they want people to feel safe getting one.

"We put it off a month. In fact, we put if off almost a month and a half before we actually did it because we wanted to make sure that supply was coming in," said Mayor Battle. "We are now starting to get some supply, and I think we will get more supply over the next couple of months."

Mayor Battle says he does not feel sick or tired after getting the first shot.

Alabama is expected to announce a time frame for expanding who can get the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

WATCH: Mayor Battle, faith-based leaders get vaccinated and encourage communities

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