The Jefferson County Department of Health is conducting its own vaccine distribution process, separate from the rest of the state, with a web portal and phone hotline for use only by citizens of the county.

Officials from the county provided an update on the effort via a live-streamed press conference on Monday.

Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson on Monday relayed that the county was still in Phase 1A of the vaccine distribution plan, meaning that only “health care workers, emergency medical service providers, and resident of long term care facilities are eligible.”

“We’re working on getting them done this week,” added Harris of those in Phase 1A.

According to Wilson, two additional categories of people will be added to the list of those eligible for vaccination beginning on Monday, January 18.

Those two categories, per Wilson, are people age 75 and over, and non-medical first responders such as law enforcement and firefighters who were not eligible in the first phase.

In Jefferson County, adding those two categories means an additional 46,000 to 47,000 people are eligible to receive the vaccine.

Wilson stressed to the public on Monday that the county is not moving into the full Phase 1B section of the vaccination process, but is rather adding those age 75+ and first responders to the first phase.

A call center has been set up, exclusively for residents of Jefferson County, where people can get information about whether or not they are eligible for the vaccine.

The number to call is (205) 858-2221.

Wilson warned that the number is “not exactly an appointment center, but it is a way to help make sure people are linked to those entities that can schedule appointments.”

The widely publicized statewide vaccine hotline does not make appointments for Jefferson County residents.

Additionally, citizens of Jefferson County can fill out an online form, and health officials “will review your information and make a determination on which phase of the vaccine distribution is most appropriate for your situation.”

Wilson advised, “There is currently a limited supply of vaccine and we have a lot of people to vaccinate.”

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.