The Alabama COVID Response Unit (ACRU) is offering free mental health counseling services for individuals across Alabama. The program is funded by a grant from the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
Alabama’s percent positivity rate for community transmission of COVID-19 continues to decline, according to data from the Alabama Department of Public Health.
J&J was considered a breakthrough with only one shot rather than two, but now after more studies, it shows a second shot will provide even better protection.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Wesley Willeford said with the rate of transmission, it is possible to have a safe holiday season this year. He said as long as your trick or treating plans are outside, you’ll likely be fine.
Williamson said survey results showed that hospitals are short more than 1,000 nurses right now, but state funds are supplying more than 250 traveling nurses.
A terrible price has been paid with more than 15,000 Alabamians dying of Covid-19. The Alabama Department of Public Health saying many of these lives could have been saved had they been vaccinated against the virus.
“While viruses that contain this mutation may be able to escape the immune response and resist antibodies, vaccination remains our best tool to prevent transmission and severe illness.”
Dr. Karen Landers, said the concept of herd immunity isn’t very helpful to us now because that would mean nearly everyone in the population would need to encounter COVID and not everyone’s immune response is the same.
The Alabama Department of Public Health says there have been 14,756 pandemic-related deaths so far with more waiting final confirmation. Nationally, the death rate is around one in 500.
Dr. Skandhan said vaccine hesitancy revolves around unanswered questions about the vaccine itself. He said this can be resolved by starting with answers and addressing the root cause.
With Alabama feeling the pinch brought on by the federal government’s decision to reallocate monoclonal antibody treatment to states, several U.S. senators are moving to reverse the decision.
He recommends them for people who are unvaccinated or fully vaccinated with underlying conditions. Dr. Crawford says these are a great way to limit visits to hospitals.
Dr. Nafziger said UAB has tried other ways to find staff, and is now joining dozens of other hospitals in the state in asking the federal government for help.
We’ve heard many reports debunking myths about COVID-19 vaccines impacting women’s reproductive health, but misinformation continues to circulate about how they impact men’s health.
Williamson said while staff is still stretched thin, transfers are also improving. He said the state is now able to transfer patients to other hospitals again, it just is not happening as quickly as he would like.
