The Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at WaterMark Place in Bessemer is now open! Current hours of operation are Mon/Wed/Thu/Sat: 9a – 4p, Tue/Thu: 11a – 6p, Sun: 12 – 4p. Jefferson County residents needing transportation assistance can call 205-858-2221 to have a ride arranged. No ID, insurance, or appointment is required. Persons desiring to schedule an appointment can go to https://myturn.timetap.com/#/ or may call 205-858-2221. Please help spread the word!

BIRMINGHAM, AL –  Thousands of eligible Jefferson County residents will receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 29, 2021, as a new vaccination site will open at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM). The vaccination site is a collaborative effort by the Jefferson County Department of Health, Doctor Celeste MD, Bruno Event Team, the City of Birmingham, Birmingham Airport Authority and Kaiser Aircraft Industries. The vaccination site will allow for administering up to 4,500 COVID-19 vaccinations each week over the next 60 days to eligible Jefferson County residents under the guidelines set by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

“This site is an ideal location to serve all of Jefferson County,” said Dr. Mark Wilson, Jefferson County Health Officer.  “This collaborative effort will help move us more quickly toward the herd immunity needed to end this pandemic.”

The drive-through vaccination site is by appointment only and appointments will first be offered to eligible individuals who have pre-registered through the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency’s website www.jeffcoema.org by clicking the green registration button. Those who do not have access to the website can call the Jefferson County Vaccine Call Center Monday – Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at (205) 858-2221. People currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccine and already registered with the Jefferson County Vaccine Call Center are being prioritized for appointments at the new Birmingham Airport COVID-19 vaccination site.

Board-certified, family medicine physician Dr. Celeste Reese-Willis, and her medical team will administer first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine. “We are delighted to be a part of the team helping to provide vaccines to Jefferson County and the surrounding areas,” said Dr. Celeste Reese-Willis, CEO of Doctor Celeste MD. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve the community in a time such as this during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In the coming weeks as more vaccines become available, and as community needs change, the public will have more access to the vaccine, and in this instance, self-scheduling will be available on a limited basis. Additionally, this new vaccination site is less than 10 minutes from the heart of the city.

 "Ensuring the health and wellness of our community is a key priority for my administration," Mayor Randall Woodfin said. "One of the biggest hurdles in administering vaccinations has been access. We're grateful that this new site will allow more Birmingham families to be able to receive vaccines, protecting not only themselves but their loved ones as well."

Being a responsible member of the community and a friend to its neighbors remains a top priority of the Birmingham Airport Authority. Together with Kaiser Aircraft Industries, the Birmingham airport is pleased to support and help accelerate the county’s critical health and safety efforts with the COVID-19 vaccine. Airport workers and other eligible community members received vaccinations on Friday as a test run in preparation for the site to open to the public.

“I am grateful for the partnership and collaboration across multiple organizations and agencies who have worked so hard to make this site possible as we want to do all that we can to bring more vaccination opportunities to our community,” said Ronald F. Mathieu, Birmingham Airport Authority President and CEO. “At BHM, we continue to build upon our multitiered approach of prioritizing health and safety. Vaccinations for the airport community benefits the front-line workers and their families as well as offers peace of mind for travelers when they fly BHM as they are ready.” 

HOURS OF OPERATION & LOCATION

The vaccination site will operate Monday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. by appointment only. The site is located near the airport terminal off Aviation Avenue at the end of 50th Street North & 18th Alley across from Kaiser Aircraft Industries.

NEW

A limited number of appointment slots are also being made available for other Jefferson County residents who are currently eligible under the Alabama COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Plan at this link: bit.ly/bhamvaccine.  People who do not have internet access may call the Call Center at 205-858-2221 during the hours of 8:00AM to 8:00PM Monday-Saturday to make an appointment.

Just prior to this time last year, we had been watching with concern as cases of novel coronavirus infections were overwhelming hospitals in other parts of the world, and new cases were emerging across many parts United States. When the first cases were identified in all of Alabama’s neighboring states, we understood that it would only be a matter of time before cases would be identified in Jefferson County, and that there was a good chance that infections were already spreading undetected in our area. On March 13, 2020, Jefferson County announced its first COVID-19 case. The Jefferson County Department of Health had been preparing for this type of pandemic/crisis through trainings and enactment exercises with other local, state and federal agencies. This pandemic was unprecedented and allowed us to put our practiced competencies into action.

In order to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the year in review, we compiled COVID-related events, activities and milestones to depict important undertakings that occurred throughout the pandemic.

Comprehensive OP ED

COVID-19 One-year Timeline

The Jefferson County Unified Command Center will provide COVID-19 updates as needed.

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for February 16, 2021: https://bit.ly/3qtMu95

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for February 5, 2021: http://bit.ly/3tZz3zH

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for February 3, 2021: https://bit.ly/2MnONvB

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for January 27, 2021: https://bit.ly/2MuP8fs

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for January 20, 2021: https://bit.ly/394m4EA

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for January 13, 2021: https://bit.ly/3i8L40a

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for December 30, 2020: https://bit.ly/2WX3tTY

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for December 23, 2020: https://bit.ly/3pk375T

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for December 16, 2020: https://bit.ly/2WnNuhm

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for December 9, 2020: https://bit.ly/3qLEQaG

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for December 2, 2020: https://bit.ly/39F0irx

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for November 25, 2020: https://bit.ly/2HBM8fj

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for November 18, 2020: https://bit.ly/3fdfxIY

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for November 10, 2020: https://bit.ly/3n9hp8o

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for November 4, 2020: https://bit.ly/3jXNUVb

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for October 28, 2020: https://bit.ly/31PgTEi

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for October 21, 2020: https://bit.ly/35ohY70

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for October 14, 2020: https://bit.ly/3kcVV9P

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for October 7, 2020: https://bit.ly/2Sy57cz

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for September 25, 2020: https://bit.ly/33YjRH0

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for September 11, 2020: https://bit.ly/2Rj9LdH

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for September 8, 2020: https://bit.ly/35v6ErF

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for August 28, 2020: https://bit.ly/3hEwaO7

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for August 11, 2020: https://bit.ly/2DWeHle

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for July 31, 2020: https://bit.ly/2PdAxTQ

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for July 28, 2020: https://bit.ly/3g95WT8

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for July 14, 2020: https://bit.ly/2DIioLq

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for July 10, 2020: https://bit.ly/2Zh7ODp

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for July 7, 2020: https://bit.ly/2DkAzXn

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for July 3, 2020: https://bit.ly/2ZGNE4M

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for June 30, 2020: https://bit.ly/2ZrjcLM

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for June 26, 2020: https://bit.ly/3i4oHbV

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for June 19, 2020: https://bit.ly/2BmMlj2

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for June 16, 2020: https://bit.ly/3e8CUSL

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for June 12, 2020: https://bit.ly/3e1Tqnu

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for June 2, 2020: https://bit.ly/36RLF0K

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for May 29, 2020: https://bit.ly/3dhNfv7

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for May 22, 2020: https://bit.ly/3eflJhN

• Video: https://bit.ly/3gb2rMF
  

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for May 19, 2020: https://bit.ly/2ylS0oo

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for May 15, 2020: https://bit.ly/3dVsi9r

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for May 12, 2020: https://bit.ly/2yFiWQ9

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for May 1, 2020: https://bit.ly/3bUkh3X

• COVID-19 Statistics by Race: bit.ly/3bQFHPj

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for April 28, 2020: https://bit.ly/2KK7N2W

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for April 24, 2020: https://bit.ly/2KIlfUN

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for April 21, 2020: https://bit.ly/2VMpXqW

Jefferson County Unified Command Center Update for April 17, 2020: https://youtu.be/RJpWaeFmAZs

The Jefferson County Department of Health wants to assist businesses and organizations in remaining as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing helpful guidelines.

• Quarantine Guidance (Updated 12/11): https://bit.ly/3me4RM8

• Jefferson County Guidance for Reopening Schools (Updated 10/5): https://bit.ly/3cXgdBe

• Swimming Pool and Splash Pad Guidance: https://bit.ly/3cXc939

• Faith-based Organization Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated 12/15): https://bit.ly/2ANLiIs
• Guidance for Businesses (Updated 12/15): https://bit.ly/3eUvSSI
• Guidance for Indoor and Outdoor Gatherings during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated 12/15): https://bit.ly/3nm20SQ
• Guidance for Management of COVID-19 in Childcare Settings (Updated 12/15): https://bit.ly/3nnCqNe