Less Than Half Of Tuscaloosa Vaccinated Against Coronavirus

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Despite widespread access to free doses of the coronavirus vaccine, less than half of Tuscaloosa County's population has received one dose, according to the latest data from the Alabama Department of Public Health.

In its latest update, ADPH says 72,866 Tuscaloosa County residents have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The single-day peak for vaccine administration in Tuscaloosa surprisingly came in April, with nearly 2,000 people receiving shots on April 9. Since June, that daily number has fallen off sharply, as the number of willing recipients waiting to receive their shots dwindles.

Click here to search for locations offering the coronavirus vaccine in Tuscaloosa.

Thus far, 63,068 people in Tuscaloosa have fully finished their vaccination schedule, which comes amid a decline in new cases compared to recent months and this time last year. In total, ADPH reports 28 new coronavirus cases identified in Tuscaloosa over the last two weeks, bringing the county's cumulative number of cases to 26,323 since the pandemic began, which includes cases both confirmed and classified as probable.

In terms of local hospitalizations, DCH Health System reported six total coronavirus inpatients being treated systemwide on Friday. While new cases do persist, the number marks improvement month-over-month from June's high of 16 inpatients.

The challenge for public health officials is now convincing the wider public to put their faith in the vaccine. However, roadblocks continue to spur skepticism in those wary of the vaccine, especially following news that Pfizer expressed plans to seek emergency use authorization for a third coronavirus booster shot.

As Patch previously reported, though, this plan has been met with pushback from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who assert that Americans do not need a booster shot at this time.

In the statement, the agencies said it is not up to companies alone to decide when a booster shot is needed.

"FDA, CDC, and NIH are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary," the statement reads. "This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data – which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively."

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