Vaccine availability in Alabama

Dan shaffer.

New information.

Tonight -- we are learning more about alabama's plan to roll out the coronavirus vaccine.

Huntsville hospital announced today that it will be among the first hospitals in the state to receive them.

Waay 31's max cohan joins us live now.

He's outside huntsville hospital tonight... after learning more about those doses and who will get them first.

Max?

This afternoon the hospital announced that it expects to receive nearly seven thousand doses during the first phase of distribution.

State health officer scott harris said that first round will be designated for those who are at the highest risk -- mostly health care workers and nursing home patients -- but even then, there won't be nearly enough... "we really hope to have vaccine product available here within the next couple of weeks, hopefully by mid-december, and we can start immunizing people as quickly as possible.

During a facebook live with senator doug jones friday -- state health officer dr. scott harris said the state is expecting just over 40,000 doses of the pfizer vaccine to arrive in the state for distribution in the coming weeks.

With moderna's to follow shortly after.

The initial distribution plan will give the pfizer vaccine to the select hospitals that have the ability to hold it in the sub-zero temperatures needed and distribute nearly 1,000 viles in a short span of time..

Friday we learned that huntsville hospital is among them -- expecting to receive 6,825 doses during that first round.

"there's simply not enough vaccine right now for everyone and there's not enough vaccine even for everyone who's highly deserving of it."

Dr harris says high-risk health care workers and nursing home patients with medical conditions are first on the list for immunization.

Even then it may take weeks to fully cover that group.

And while it might be a while before the vaccine is widely available to the public, some already say they plan on getting it.

Dylan mckelvey said everyone is entitled to their opinion on the vaccine, but he plans to get it to keep his loved ones safe.

"you don't really need to understand it, it's just up to them.

But i will just to protect myself everybody around me."

According to the four phase vaccine plan dr harris presented -- there is expected to be a sufficient supply by phase four -- when all unvaccinated groups will be targeted.

Currently, there is no timeline indicating when that might be.

Live in huntsville, max cohan, waay 31 news.