By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA — Last week, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced the expansion of vaccine eligibility for new people groups within the State of Alabama.

Beginning on February 8, people over the age of 65 as well as new frontline workers will be able to receive one of the approved vaccines for COVID-19. The worker groups now eligible for vaccination include first responders, correctional officers, food and agriculture workers, U.S. Postal Service employees, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, people in the education sector, childcare workers, and those working in the judicial system. 

“We have all been frustrated that the supply of vaccine coming from the federal government hasn’t kept up with the demand,” Governor Ivey said. “To be blunt, we simply haven’t gotten the vaccine that we’ve been promised, and this has created a major backlog of aggravation. Today’s announcement will ensure that as more vaccine is released, we will have a plan in place to get the vaccine in people’s arms more quickly.”

This expansion of vaccine access will add over 1 million citizens to the growing roster of those eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama.

“Alabama is expanding its guidance despite the limited vaccine in order to accelerate the vaccine uptake in our state,” said Dr. Scott Harris, State Public Health Officer. “I want to reiterate that any remaining vaccines that have not been administered are either someone’s first dose and they are waiting on their appointment or they are waiting on their second dose. Any vaccine currently in the state has someone’s name on it.”

As of Tuesday, February 2, the ADPH had recorded 462,938 cases of the novel coronavirus in Alabama with 7,894 deaths confirmed since last spring. 242,143 of those cases have been labeled as “presumed recoveries.” 

In DeKalb County, over 8,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed since last March with 143 deaths. As of last week, DeKalb County was labeled in a “low risk” category for active virus spread as COVID-19 continues a downward spiral statewide (for now.) 

To schedule an appointment for a free COVID-19 vaccination, contact the Alabama Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 1 (855) 566-5333. A list of vaccine providers can be found at alabamapublichealth.gov.