Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey receives Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey receives a COVID-19 vaccine from RN Donna Pugh at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery. (Hal Yeager/Governor's Office)
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey received the first of two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday afternoon at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery. Registered Nurse Donna Pugh administered the shot.
Ivey praised the scientists, medical professionals and the Trump administration for their commitment to creating and distributing a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and State Chief Health Medical Officer Dr. Mary McIntyre also received a dose of the vaccine.
The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is given three weeks after the first. Health care officials have said the first dose provides a level of protection and lessens the severity of COVID-19 should a person become infected before receiving the second shot.
Ivey’s message to the public was one of confidence in the vaccine. Pfizer’s vaccine made its way to Alabama last week, with initial doses given to health care providers at hospitals and clinics, and emergency medical service workers.
The governor also thanked Alabama’s “health care heroes” who have been on the front lines of the pandemic since March.
On the same day Ivey was receiving the Pfizer vaccine, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) said it expected doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to arrive at some Alabama facilities, with more shipments arriving during the next few days since the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the vaccine was received from the Food and Drug Administration. Alabama’s initial allocation is 84,300 doses.
The first allocation is being shipped to a number of pre-identified locations with capacity to store the Moderna product. Moderna requires storage at minus 20 degrees Celsius.
As was done with the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was allocated using a federal microplanning tool. The current allocation for administration is 50% for hospital health care workers, 15% for EMS providers, 15% for physicians’ offices and 20% for other hospital staff/health care workers not associated with the point of distribution. Residents of long-term care will be vaccinated through the Federal Pharmacy Program in cooperation with large chain pharmacies.
According to Dr. Karen Landers of the Alabama Department of Public Health, some facilities today are receiving shipments of the Moderna vaccine. Alabama’s initial allocation is 84,300 doses. (Moderna / Alabama NewsCenter)
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses separated by 28 days, and a recall system for second doses has been established. Additional vaccine doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are expected at weekly intervals, and the second doses of the vaccine will be included in follow-up allocations.
The health department said information regarding the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine’s side effect profile indicated that some recipients had pain at the site of injection, headaches, fever, muscle aches and chills. These were seen more with the second dose than the first dose and were reported to resolve over one to two days. Mechanisms are in place to monitor for vaccine side effects.
ADPH continues to urge the public to practice caution by postponing travel and avoiding gatherings during the holidays. Other simple measures that everyone should continue taking to reduce transmission of COVID-19:
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
· Social distance by staying 6 feet away from others.
· Stay home if you can; work remotely if possible.
· Cover your mouth and nose with a face covering when around others.
· Cover coughs and sneezes.
· Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
· Monitor your health.
For additional prevention and treatment resources, go to https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/prevention.html.
