Equality UMC to offer COVID-19 vaccines
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Equality UMC to offer COVID-19 vaccines
By Christa Jennings
The Equality United Methodist Church is pleased to announce it will be able to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the community.
This opportunity is made possible through a partnership of the United Methodist Church with Advanced Health Education Center, Alabama State Department of Health and UAB.
The dates for these vaccinations are not yet known, as the church must wait until vaccines are available.
However, anyone interested in receiving the vaccine shots at Equality UMC are asked to provide the following information: name, phone number, email address, and date of birth. Individuals may provide information for multiple people who are interested in being vaccinated.
This requested information can be emailed to equalitycovidshots@gmail.com, or call 334-541-4063. When vaccines become available, the church will contact those individuals to schedule appointments.
Nearby, but out-of-county, vaccines are also available next week in Tallapoosa County for those interested in getting the vaccine as soon as possible.
Russell Medical will be offering the Pfizer vaccine to the public at The Mill Two Eighty today and Wednesday, March 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is for anyone who is more than 18 years old.
Additionally, the Pfizer vaccine will also be offered on Monday, March 29, and Tuesday, March 30, at Great Bethel Church on Jefferson Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As of press time, the statewide reported count of COVID-19 cases was 512,711, with the reported number of COVID-19 deaths at 10,487.
Statewide there have been 2,171,705 vaccine doses delivered to Alabama and 1,498,087 doses administered. Those who are currently eligible for the vaccine are those in phase 1a, phase 1b, phase 1c, and people 55 years of age and older.
The Alabama COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Plan outlines the various phases and can be found at:
www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19vaccine/assets/adph-covid19-vaccination-allocation-plan.pdf
The Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently approved for ages 16 and older. Some providers may be offering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is currently not approved for those less than 18 years of age. Those who are 16 or 17 years of age are asked to check which vaccine the provider is offering before scheduling their appointment.
At the local level, as of press time Coosa County had 3,486 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered. Countywide there have been 2,119 people who received one or more doses, and 1,427 Coosa County residents have completed their vaccine series.
Coosa is one of 47 Alabama counties to have 20% or more of the residents age 16 and older who have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
For Coosa County, the population greater than 16 years old is 9,123, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. With 2,119 people receiving at least one dose, that means 23% of the county residents 16 years or older have received at least one vaccine dose.
Coosa County remains in the low risk category according to the ADPH, having a decline in new cases for more than 14 days.
As of Wednesday the county had a total of 1,085 COVID-19 cases, with 824 confirmed and 261 probable. The county deaths related to COVID-19 are reported to be 25 total, with 23 confirmed and two probable.
In the last 14 days, as of press time, the county had 12 new COVID-19 cases with 206 diagnostic tests performed.
Although the Coosa County school system is on spring break this week, as of last Friday, March 19, the school was reporting a 0% positivity rate at the elementary and high school levels, as well as a 0% quarantine rate. These numbers reflect both in-school and virtual students.
Although Gov. Kay Ivey announced that masks and other facial coverings will no longer be a statewide mandate after April 9, the ADPH is encouraging the use of facial coverings after the mandate ends.
ADPH also reminds everyone that numerous businesses and healthcare facilities will continue to require facial coverings in their facilities after April 9.
Additionally, ADPH reports, “Hospitals and nursing homes are under federal guidance that supports the use of facial coverings, and we anticipate the requirement for facial coverings to remain in place at those facilities.”
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 in general, visit https://alcovidvaccine.gov or www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19vaccine/index.html.