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News / Health / State

UAB to begin clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine in August

If all goes well in upcoming clinical trials, the world could know if we have a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 as early as December, but questions remain about what immunity to the virus will look like. Dr. Paul Goepfert, professor of medicine in the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases, told reporters in a press briefing … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 24, 2020

Alabama reports record increase to COVID death toll

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 57 new coronavirus deaths, breaking the previous daily record of 47 set July 15.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 22, 2020

Jefferson County health officer: Hospitals, testing sites, labs strained under surging COVID-19

Jefferson County’s top health official said Tuesday that the continued surge in COVID-19 cases is putting a strain on the area’s health care system, which is collectively near capacity. “We are in a much worse place than we were back in mid-April, late March. COVID-19 is now putting a strain on every part of our … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

July 21, 2020

Alabama reports record COVID hospitalizations for five straight days

While Monday was the fifth-straight day of record hospitalizations, it comes amid a month of accelerating hospitalization numbers.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 20, 2020

Alabama’s daily COVID-19 deaths second highest since start of pandemic

In the past two weeks the state recorded 190 coronavirus deaths, a 38 percent increase from the previous two weeks.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 10, 2020

Alabama lawmaker suggests more should become infected with COVID-19

The leader of Alabama's State Senate suggested to a reporter that he'd actually like to see more people become infected to build the state's overall immunity to the virus, a claim that would require thousands more deaths to become a reality.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 10, 2020

UAB expert: We can’t wait until it’s too late to act on surging cases

“We still are at a time point when we have an ability to intervene, and do something to reduce that case count, to reduce the eventual mortality,” UAB specialist Dr. Jodie Dionne-Odom said.

Eddie Burkhalter

July 8, 2020

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Alabama set new record high

Alabama on Monday saw a new record number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19, and while the hospitals are managing well now, that could change if the trends of rising cases and hospitalizations continue. “Please wear masks,” said Dr. Don Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association, speaking to APR on Monday. Alabama’s hospitals were … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

June 29, 2020

UAB expert warns court in elections suit of possible COVID-19 spike in fall

A renowned Birmingham infectious disease physician believes Alabama needs to take precautions as elections near, and warned of a likely spike in COVID-19 cases in the fall. Dr. Michael Saag, a professor and associate dean at UAB’s School of Medicine and a leading HIV/Aid researcher and expert on infectious diseases, wrote to the Circuit Court … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

June 18, 2020

About half of Americans asked say they’d take COVID-19 vaccine

While most Americans believe a vaccine for COVID-19 will be available in 2021, only around half say they’ll get vaccinated according to a recent study. A leading infectious disease expert at UAB worries, however, that there’s no guarantee researchers can create a safe, effective vaccine for the virus at all, and that if a vaccine … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 27, 2020