Health Care
Using Pastors And Pints, Gulf States Try To Boost COVID Vaccination Rates In White Communities
Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama have the lowest vaccination rates nationally, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Health officials are considering creative incentives to get the numbers up from church events to possible beer giveaways.
As Demand Drops, Health Officials Look For Ways To Encourage Vaccinations
Health officials say at first they were focused on vaccinating elderly and at-risk people in Alabama. Now the focus is shifting to people who are skeptical or apathetic about the vaccine.
Starting Thursday, UAB To Offer Pfizer Vaccine To Adolescents
The Pfizer COVID-19 shot was found to be 100% effective in preventing disease among children aged 12 to 15 years old.
Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Increase 100% In Jefferson County
The powerful synthetic opioid is now being mixed with drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, leading to more overdose deaths.
Retiring Children’s Of Alabama CEO Expects Medicaid To Face Budget Pressure Again
CEO Mike Warren said he thought he could fix Medicaid, but he was naive.
Alabama Health Officials: ‘Plenty’ Of COVID-19 Vaccines
While about 30% of Alabamians have received at least one shot of a COVID vaccine, officials said demand has declined in recent weeks, leaving thousands of unused doses sitting on shelves.
Past And Present Collide As Community Health Centers Strive To Close Rural Care Gaps In The Pandemic
Many rural health leaders believe community health centers, which were born in the 60s to reach low-income communities of color, were a missing piece in achieving equity in the vaccine rollout.
UAB Health System CEO: ‘It really was that bleak.’
CEO Will Ferniany will end his health care career having led the organization through the coronavirus pandemic. He plans to retire later this year.
Alabama Pauses Distribution Of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Alabama is one of several states halting distribution of the vaccine as federal health officials examine links to adverse health effects.
Businesses React To Birmingham’s New Mask Order
A local ordinance replaces the statewide mask order expiring April 9. Some say the move is necessary, but others call it an "undue burden."
Acclinate Races Against The Clock To Increase Diversity In Clinical Drug Trials
A lack of racial diversity in clinical trials can make new drugs and treatments less effective for people of color. According to one recent study, 78% of trial participants were white. Acclinate, a new Birmingham-based company, is trying to correct that imbalance by connecting underserved populations with researchers.
Will Alabama And Mississippi Expand Medicaid To Low-Income Adults This Time Around?
Many advocates and politicians argue the new incentive is an offer that’s too good to refuse, but it still might not move the needle.
A Vaccination Event For Commercial Fishers Offers Lessons On How To Reel In At-Risk Communities
As the rollout expands, health officials and community leaders are learning more about how to make sure the vaccine is not only available, but truly accessible for at-risk groups.
Alabama Deploys Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Units To Rural Areas
All eligible Alabamians in these 24 rural counties can receive a free COVID-19 vaccine beginning Tuesday.
Alabama Plans To Open Vaccine Eligibility By May 1, But Hesitancy Remains A Problem
About one-third of adults in Alabama are hesitant to get the vaccine, according to polling by the state department of public health.
UAB To Open New Vaccination Site And Update Demographic Data
The vaccination site located at AOH Cathedral of the Cross in northeast Birmingham is a drive-thru site, but only eligible residents can sign up for an appointment.
Alabama To Expand COVID Vaccine Eligibility March 22
Alabamians aged 55 and older, plus those with high-risk conditions and disabilities are among the groups that will soon be eligible for a COVID vaccine.
A Year Like No Other: COVID-19 In The Gulf States
In a special broadcast one year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, reporters from public radio stations in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana reflect on the toll it’s taken on the region.
Birmingham VA Offers Vaccines To Eligible Veterans of All Ages
The agency announced the change on Wednesday.
ADPH Plans Mobile Vaccination Clinics For Black Belt Region
State health officials hope to administer more vaccines to residents of rural areas.
UAB And JeffCo To Expand Vaccine Outreach In Underrepresented Communities
As of Wednesday, UAB had administered roughly 80,000 vaccine doses, but Black residents remain disproportionately underrepresented.
Alabama’s COVID-19 Death Count Nears 10,000 Mark
Within about a year, the state has lost almost 10,000 Alabamians to COVID-19.
UAB Officials Hopeful Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Could Accelerate Rollout
UAB health experts say when it comes to vaccine variety, more is better. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the latest to win approval from the federal government.
Alabama’s COVID Vaccination Rate Increases
Federal programs have helped increase the number of Alabamians getting vaccinated in recent weeks.
“The Edge of the Woods”: UAB Epidemiologist Says Herd Immunity Could Be Reached By Late Spring
An epidemiologist at UAB Medicine thinks that Alabama may be headed toward a long-sought goal in the COVID pandemic and may reach that goal sooner than many had expected.
Alabama Cautiously Optimistic About Improving COVID Numbers
The end of holiday season gatherings and early vaccinations are thought to be factors in the pandemic's positive trend.
Black Residents Call For More COVID Vaccine Outreach And Access
Concerned about disparities in vaccine allocation, Birmingham community leaders want officials to increase outreach efforts in Black neighborhoods.
To Get The Vaccine Or Not: How These Black Health Care Workers Made The Decision
Skepticism around the COVID-19 vaccine appears to be more prevalent within the Black community and among Black health care workers. We talked to a few of them about what’s guiding their decisions.
Bruno Event Team Takes Over JCDH Vaccine Call Center
The Jefferson County United Command Center will bring in a sporting event group to answer more calls to the COVID vaccine hotline.
Surge In Deaths Strains Local Funeral Homes, Morgue
In recent months, deaths due to COVID-19 increased dramatically, further stressing an industry already overwhelmed.
Vaccine ‘Hunters’ Travel To Mississippi, Other States For A Potential Dose
Officials worry that with cross-border travel for vaccines, second doses could get complicated.
‘Huge Number’ Of Jeffco Residents Soon Eligible For COVID Vaccines
Many people will have to wait weeks, maybe months to get the COVID-19 vaccine, despite being eligible.
