December 4, 2020 - Vaccines at the Ready
Vaccines at the Ready
December 4, 2020
The post-Thanksgiving outbreak has continued to accelerate in Alabama and throughout the United States today. There were 3,840 new cases in our State (incl. 709 probables), just 88 cases shy of the all-time high, a mark that was set two days ago, The 7-day moving average for daily cases now stands at 3,046 (also a new high). With 10,420 reported tests, our single-day positivity rate was 36.9% and the moving average for the last 7 days is 33.6%.
Hospitals around the State saw a net increase of 48 COVID patients, reaching another all-time high of 1,875 statewide hospitalizations in 107 hospitals. Hospitalizations typically lag positive test results by several days, so the recent explosion in cases (4 straight days over 3,000) will surely place mounting pressure on hospitals next week. Alabama also lost 55 more of our people to the virus, most of whom died alone.
As we approach the end of the year, the vaccines cannot arrive soon enough. Pfizer is expected to receive F.D.A authorization for its vaccine on December 14; and if all goes well, the first shipment of 6.4 million doses will be distributed the next day. Alabama has been informed it will receive about 41,000 doses in the first shipment, enough to vaccinate 20,000 persons (Pfizer requires two doses). According to ADPH, there are 300,000 healthcare workers and 50,000-60,000 nursing home residents and staff in Alabama, so our initial allotment from Pfizer will barely scratch the surface of our most vulnerable populations.
The Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive one week after the Pfizer vaccine. For technical reasons, the Moderna vaccine must initially be targeted to more rural areas, while the Pfizer vaccine will target urban areas with larger hospitals. Here is the full text of Alabama’s vaccine distribution plan: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/adph-covid19-vaccination-allocation-plan.pdf
So, we stand at the threshold of a new phase in this battle. But, it will be months before most people can be vaccinated, aside from frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents and staff. If other vaccines, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, are approved after the first of the year, the timetable might speed up. In the meantime, however, your most important protection will continue to be your mask and your common sense. For God’s sake, use them both. The totals:
11/21 - 2335
11/22 - 1798
11/23 - 1574
11/24 - 2785
11/25- 2453
11/26 - 2639
11/27 - 917
11/28 - 2119
11/29 - 2236
11/30 - 2295
12/1 - 3376
12/2 - 3928
12/3 - 3531
12/4 - 3840
Thirteen counties reported more than 100 cases today, led by Jefferson County (594). Others include Madison (306); Marshall (203); Morgan (177); Shelby (176); Mobile (174); Baldwin (160); Tuscaloosa (144); Calhoun (130); Etowah (127); Jackson (119); and Montgomery (113).