Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday that Alabama residents 16 and older may get the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, April 5.

“I’ve committed to the people of Alabama that we are on a path forward, and I remain hopeful and optimistic about where we’re going,” Ivey said. “This vaccine is our ticket back to normal. We’re getting so close to getting COVID-19 in the rear view mirror and, until then, we need to keep wearing our masks, use common sense, use personal responsibility.”

Speaking at Wilcox Central High School in Camden, the governor thanked Alabama National Guard members who, for the past two weeks, have rotated through rural counties to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

“In Alabama, we plan to use every tool in our toolkit to put an end to COVID-19, once and for all and, no doubt, the Alabama National Guard is a critical part of this effort,” Ivey said. “Our goal is simple, and that is to get shots off the shelves and into the arms of Alabamians.”

In the first week, National Guardsmen set up mobile vaccination clinics in seven counties. Competing with severe weather, Guardsmen administered more than 3,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Despite the storms and heavy tornado damage, more than 7,000 shots have been given since last week.

As of April 1, more than 1.7 million vaccine doses have been administered to Alabama residents. By expanding eligibility to those 16 and older, there will be close to 4 million eligible people in Alabama.

The Pfizer vaccine is available to people 16 and older, and the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to those 18 and older. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said there will be more than 700 locations the state is supplying with vaccines, and the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program has several hundred retail chain pharmacies that will also have vaccines. Starting April 5, Harris expects more than 160,000 first doses to be shipped into the state.

Ivey encouraged eligible residents in Wilcox County to visit the clinic at Wilcox Central High School and Russell County residents to go to the clinic at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. Harris noted that Wilcox County ranks near the top in Alabama for the percentage of residents vaccinated.

“We believe that everyone should receive this vaccine; it’s the way Alabama gets back to normal. … We have three very safe vaccine products and we are trying to get them out as quickly as possible,” Harris said.

Harris reminded Alabamians to be alert and careful during Easter weekend and to remember that the pandemic isn’t over.

“Smaller gatherings are better than larger gatherings, outdoors is safer than indoors and a short amount of time is better than a longer amount of time,” Harris said.

Harris advised the public to protect themselves by following these rules:

•  Be careful about getting together in groups.
•  Wear masks whenever possible.
•  Be diligent about sanitation and hygiene.