Alabama’s COVID Vaccination Rate Increases

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1656119097 
1614271858

After a slow start, Alabama’s rollout of the coronavirus vaccine is picking up pace, according to state Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. 

“Alabama as a whole has done a great job,” Harris said during a media call Thursday. “The past five weeks, we’ve given out well over 100,000 vaccines. And last week, even with all of the weather delays, it was our second best week that we have had so far.”

The state has administered more than 800,000 doses. Harris said federal programs are helping to increase supply and reach more residents. 

Walmart, which recently began vaccinating residents in 74 Alabama locations, announced this week that it will soon expand to more stores. CVS Pharmacy also began offering vaccine appointments Thursday in select cities around the state.

Harris said starting next week, the state expects to receive anywhere from 90,000 to 100,000 doses a week from the federal government, but that still isn’t enough to vaccinate the close to 1.5 million residents who are currently eligible. 

State vaccine dashboard shows the number of doses administered weekly as of February 25.

Alabama could get a boost if the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is easier to store and administer, is granted emergency use authorization by the federal government.

“One shot opens up a lot of doors for us,” Harris said. “There are a lot of logistical problems that get solved by having a single dose vaccine.”

Harris said he has heard concerns about the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but said it is as effective at preventing death and serious illness from COVID-19 as the Pfizer and Moderna products.

 

Early intel assessment says Iran’s nuclear program was only set back ‘a few months’

President Trump has said U.S. strikes on Iran obliterated the country's nuclear program. An early intelligence assessment finds the strikes may only have set it back "a few months."

Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in London will feature a bridge reminiscent of her tiara

Foster + Partners architecture firm beat out four competitors to design the memorial, which will also feature statues of the queen and her husband Prince Philip.

‘A lid on a pot’: How does a heat dome work?

"If you've made grilled cheese in a pan and you put a lid on there, it melts the cheese faster because the lid helps trap the heat," a National Weather Service official told NPR.

Long and short-term solutions to keep yourself and your home cool in a heatwave

Much of the Midwest and the East Coast are under a heat advisory or warning this week as dangerous heat continues. Here's how to stay cool.

Why is China so concerned about Israel-Iran tensions?

China is closely watching whether Israel and Iran can broker a ceasefire. Beijing gets much of its crude oil imports from Iran through a "dark fleet" of vessels to evade American sanctions.

NTSB faults Boeing for lack of safety protocols in 737 Max door plug blowout

The nation's top safety investigators concluded there were multiple systemic failures that led to a midair blowout during the flight of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max jet last year.

More Coronavirus Coverage