With demand for COVID vaccines slowing, Alabama may lose its unused doses.
New guidelines from the federal government announced Tuesday would move unused COVID-19 vaccine doses away from states with low demand into other areas.
“Y’all, we want shots in the arms and off the shelf,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “If you have not made it a priority to schedule a vaccine, I encourage you to go get the shot as soon as you are able.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Alabama had the nation’s second lowest vaccination rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Less than 33 percent of Alabama’s population had gotten at least one dose of a vaccine. Only Mississippi had a lower rate.
“If you are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to a physician you trust and ask if he or she would recommend it for you,” Ivey’s statement continued. “If we don’t use it, we could lose it. This is our ticket back to normal. The vaccine is free and could possibly save your life.”
Demand for the vaccine is diminishing throughout the state. Every one of Alabama’s 67 counties has seen its average number of administered doses fall in recent weeks. Statewide, the number of doses administered each weekday dropped from nearly 40,000 per day on April 14 down to just around 23,000 on May 2.
[Can’t see the chart? Click here.]
State Health Officer Scott Harris also released a statement on the new rules Tuesday, encouraging Alabamians 16 and older to get the vaccine “as soon as possible.”
“Get vaccinated at your earliest opportunity,” Harris said. “COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19, and there is no charge for anyone, regardless of insurance status. Make vaccination a priority for your family, your community and yourself.If you have questions about whether you should be vaccinated, please ask your own doctor or personal healthcare provider.”
According to data from the CDC, Alabama has received more than 4.1 million vaccine doses, but given out just 2.6 million. That leaves 1.5 million doses the state could be at risk of losing.
Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald. Read more Alabama data stories here.
"lose" - Google News
May 05, 2021 at 04:43AM
https://ift.tt/3xM7awO
Use it or lose it: Alabama may have to send unused COVID vaccinations to other states - AL.com
"lose" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3fa3ADu https://ift.tt/2VWImBB
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Use it or lose it: Alabama may have to send unused COVID vaccinations to other states - AL.com"
Post a Comment