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The Alabama Department of Public Health held the first of two COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Theo Ratliff Activity Center in Demopolis. A total of 220 people received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination.

Dr. Karen Landers with the ADPH said the health department felt that every county should have an access point to the groups they are serving.

“Currently, vaccine supplies are limited, so we have to work in categories,” said Landers. “But as we get more vaccines, we’ll be able to add more groups.”

The average number of vaccines ordered by counties is within 200 to 500 doses. The minimum order for the Moderna vaccine is 100 doses. Doses are based on the population of healthcare workers and persons in the county’s risk groups, so the amount of vaccines per county may vary.

With the current state of hospitals in Alabama, these clinics’ opening is a big help in getting those in the service groups vaccinated, especially those in rural counties like Marengo.

“In a smaller county like Marengo, we’re having to reduce the numbers of services we’re providing to other public health services so we can vaccinate people,” said Landers. “We’re trying to balance our routine clinics and our routine services with the vaccine effort. But we want to ensure that we can vaccinate as many people as we can.”

Southwestern District Administrator Chad Kent, Alabama Department of Public Health, echoed Landers and touched on how vital the clinics are to counties like Marengo.

“We want to get as many of the folks that qualify in that appropriate category vaccinated,” said Kent. “We certainly want to reach out to our rural counties, and we’ll vaccinate as much as we have the vaccine available for. We’re trying to make sure our rural counties are taken care of, just like everyone else.”

The second COVID-19 vaccination clinic will also be at the Theo Ratliff Activity Center on Monday, January 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Theo Ratliff Center is located at 306 1st Ave, Demopolis.