The Alabama National Guard has been working since Mar. 23 to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to rural counties across the state. So far their efforts have been met with success.
Many residents of these counties have very limited access to vaccines, so the Guard’s goal is to get as many vaccines out as quickly as possible.
Ryan Easterling is the Director of Health Communications for the Alabama Department of Public Health. He said the successful distribution of vaccines has involved a lot of people working together.
“We’ve developed partnerships and relationships with various mayors and community leaders, pastors, different clubs and organizations, and we’re relying on them to help us get the message out,” he said.
He also said the partnership between the Guard, Department of Public Health and Emergency Management Agencies to distribute vaccines is functioning effectively.
“Everybody’s working together, and it’s just a well-oiled machine to get it out there,” he said. “A lot of the numbers that we’re seeing as we give the vaccine, the people that are getting it might be able to get it another way. But it’s our understanding that this is how they’re able to get it, and so it’s gonna make a big difference to those people.”
Easterling said demand for the vaccine in rural counties is high and vaccination numbers in these locations are rapidly improving.