“While viruses that contain this mutation may be able to escape the immune response and resist antibodies, vaccination remains our best tool to prevent transmission and severe illness.”
Dr. Karen Landers, said the concept of herd immunity isn’t very helpful to us now because that would mean nearly everyone in the population would need to encounter COVID and not everyone’s immune response is the same.
The Alabama Department of Public Health says there have been 14,756 pandemic-related deaths so far with more waiting final confirmation. Nationally, the death rate is around one in 500.
Dr. Skandhan said vaccine hesitancy revolves around unanswered questions about the vaccine itself. He said this can be resolved by starting with answers and addressing the root cause.
With Alabama feeling the pinch brought on by the federal government’s decision to reallocate monoclonal antibody treatment to states, several U.S. senators are moving to reverse the decision.
He recommends them for people who are unvaccinated or fully vaccinated with underlying conditions. Dr. Crawford says these are a great way to limit visits to hospitals.
Dr. Nafziger said UAB has tried other ways to find staff, and is now joining dozens of other hospitals in the state in asking the federal government for help.
We’ve heard many reports debunking myths about COVID-19 vaccines impacting women’s reproductive health, but misinformation continues to circulate about how they impact men’s health.
Williamson said while staff is still stretched thin, transfers are also improving. He said the state is now able to transfer patients to other hospitals again, it just is not happening as quickly as he would like.
In a letter to the president, Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen suggests there needs to be more incentive to get vaccinated and prioritizing unvaccinated people for monoclonal antibody treatment is just the opposite.
Baptist Health’s vaccine clinic in Montgomery is just one of many locations across the state of Alabama offering COVID-19 booster doses based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new guidelines.
More than 40% of Alabama’s population is fully vaccinated and the vaccination rate is slowly on the rise. Health officials are also seeing more teens and adolescents getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to trend downwards, but state health leaders said that doesn’t mean staffing conditions inside hospitals are improving yet.
Whether you are lifting weights or taking a stroll, it is no secret that exercise is beneficial for you, but the Alabama Department of Public Health said it could also reduce your chances of severe COVID-19 complications.
Millions of Americans are now eligible to receive a Pfizer booster shot to help increase their protection against the worst effects of the coronavirus.
State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris opened his weekly pandemic briefing with an acknowledgment of CDC reporting that Alabama currently leads the nation for its high COVID-19 death rate.
The Alabama Department of Public Health and Alabama Hospital Association are cautioning residents not to let their guard down despite the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases, positive tests, and hospitalizations.
This week Alabama received about 6,600 doses of monoclonal antibodies. The cost of the drug is covered, but you can expect to pay some administrative costs if you seek the treatment.
Health leaders continue to tell us that the key to recovery is for more people to get vaccinated. With Alabama having one of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, what’s the best way to convince those who are still hesitant about getting the shot to change their minds?
