Expanding COVID-19 vaccinations

Has the night off.

Health-care facilities across alabama are preparing to expand the number of coronavirus vaccinations they give out daily.

Today -- the state health department announced adults 75 and older -- along with more first responders -- will be able to get the vaccine starting january 18-th.

Waay 31's will robinson-smith is live outside of the center for elder care in south huntsville.

He spoke to workers at few pharmacies and clinics.

They will be among the first to join hospitals across north alabama in these new vaccinations.

Will?

As a matter of fact -- just today -- this facility here submitted their paperwork to the health department to get the moderna vaccine in house.

Folks i spoke with say they've been getting a huge number of people asking when they can get in line to roll up their sleeves.

Near the end of business on friday -- things are finally starting to slow down for payless pharmacy in decatur.

Another busy week of vaccinations is in the books.

The popular pharmacy got word on friday that they will be much busier soon -- since they will be in the first wave of facilities that can administer the covid vaccine to those 75 and older.

Chris matthews, pharmacist we're going to try to ramp up to get more vaccines than what we've been doing recently every day.

That's what we're in the process of: getting more vaccinators and servicing the need of this community.

Pharmacist chris matthews says right now -- they're doling out between 40-50 vaccinations each day.

They hope to double that when the state expands the eligibility.

Chris matthews, pharmacist when this happens, we'll be doing close to 100 a day and we've talked about clinics and other things, whatever we need to do to get this ball rolling with this pandemic to make it stop.

Will robinson-smith as the pharmacy prepares for january 18, there are a couple of things that will allow them to ramp up their vaccination process even more.

One is finding enough physical space to really increase the number of patients that they can see on any given day.

The other is getting a digital data logger that will allow them to automatically send information about how cold this freezer is at any given moment back to the state.

And what that will allow is for them to start receiving the pfizer vaccine, in addition to the moderna vaccine they have on hand right now.

The only issue with that at the moment, is that that digital data logger is on back order.

They're not the only ones getting geared up for the expansion.

Mainstreet family care in arab is also among the first wave and is driving folks to their website to learn how to register.

Betsy stewart, spokesperson, mainstreet family care so, we want people to know what to expect and understand that registration process so that it is as smooth and easy experience and that we can get as many people vaccinated as possible.

Others -- like the center for elder care in huntsville -- filed their paper work on friday so that they can start vaccinating their patients as well.

Dr. zaheer khan says they've been getting 20-40 calls each day over the last month -- with people asking when they will be able to get their shots.

Dr. zaheer khan, founder, center for elder care we know their history, we know their allergies and we know their families.

So, for us it's better and being a geriatrician, i thought it's my obligation and responsibility to give these vaccines.

Back in decatur -- matthews says they are excited to get more vaccines out as soon as possible.

Chris matthews, pharmacist everybody's urgently wanting to get this and i get it.

We all get it.

We all want to help as many people as we can, but we have to do it in the right way and matthews says that anyone can register on their website and a questionaire will tell them where they are in the pecking order for the vaccine as it rolls out.

Reporting live in huntsville -- will robinson-smith -- waay 31 news.