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Aarol Sheehan with the Alabama Department of Public Health, issued a statement today following the announcement from Gov. Kay Ivey that vaccines were being rolled out for elderly in the state.

“We have learned that hospital switchboards are being overwhelmed with phone calls, which is creating an obstacle to patient care.  Hospitals throughout Alabama are overwhelmed in providing care to both COVID-19 patients as well as responding to all other medical needs of our citizens.

“While hospitals in a few areas of the state have begun vaccinating those 75 years of age and older, most are still working to make sure their frontline workers are vaccinated.  Additional information will be provided when hospitals and locations other than county health departments have vaccine available for additional groups.”

No details on availability of the vaccine in Escambia County for those 75 or older have been released by officials.