Governor Kay Ivey’s office on Tuesday shed more light on plans to have Alabama National Guard members administer vaccinations in some areas of the state.
Beginning March 23, two teams of 55 guard members are to administer at least 1,000 vaccinations daily, Monday through Thursday, totaling at least 8,000 each week, by rotating across 24 counties.
“The ALNG and the Alabama Department of Public Health will be working closely with local EMAs to determine the sites and logistics. The Governor’s Office will provide that information once determined,” Ivey’s office said in a press release.
State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris first discussed these plans publicly with reporters on Friday, and said those mobile units would be working in the Black Belt region, which ADPH has identified as lacking in access to health care and overrepresented in terms of illnesses and death as a result of COVID-19.
“As we continue ramping up our vaccine distribution efforts, the guardsmen will play a critical role in reaching folks in rural areas of Alabama. We want to use every tool in our toolkit so that we can get COVID-19 behind us once and for all,” Ivey said in a statement. “The Guard and Public Health will be working closely with county emergency management officials to determine the sites, and we will be sharing that information once it is finalized. Please take advantage of this resource if you are able, but I continue urging patience as we continue working to get our hands on more supplies from the federal government. Folks, we can have hope, because, finally, we can see the end of COVID-19.”
