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.