Author: Emma Owen

As more members of the Birmingham community receive the COVID-19 vaccine, medical experts at UAB ensure the shot is safe for most people. Dr. Erin Delaney, family medicine physician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, said that while the vaccine is safe for most people 16 and older, it is important to speak with a primary care provider before being vaccinated. “Those that should not receive the vaccine are those patients that have had a severe allergic reaction before to one of the COVID-19 vaccines or one of its components,” Delaney said. Delaney said those that have experienced…

Vaccines for people 75 and older are being administered at UAB Hospital. Dr. Sarah Nafziger vice president of Clinical Support Services at UAB Medicine and professor of medicine, said 23,300 vaccines have been administered. “The great news here at UAB is we’ve received a good bit of vaccine and our vaccine administration process is working very well,” Nafziger said, “About 67% of those have gone to UAB employees, with the remainder going to employees of predominantly other healthcare institutions within our service area.” Of those vaccines, Nafziger said they have also been given to first responders. “We’re very pleased with…

As vaccines are being distributed across the nation, some UAB students are lining up for their first dose. Lexi Long, senior in nursing and patient care tech, just received her Pfizer vaccine. Long said she had the health of others in mind when it was her turn to be vaccinated. “I chose to be vaccinated because I do not want to accidentally spread covid to a patient or my roommates,” Long said. “I wear my mask to protect others and I’m getting the vaccine to protect others.” Long said nursing students have been offered the vaccine since they are frequently…

Are you looking for ways to give back this winter? If so, there are plenty of opportunities to give locally. Boutwell Auditorium’s warming station is opening doors for Birmingham residents this evening. Donations can be dropped off at Boutwell Auditorium until 4 p.m. Requested donations include breakfast and food items, blankets, socks and cleaning supplies. Firehouse Ministries, located in Birmingham, offers resources to homeless men, ages 18 and older. As the winter season rolls around, many are searching for a warm facility to stay in. Firehouse Ministries is in need of canned vegetables, nonperishable snacks, footwear, undergarments and more. A complete list…

As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise across the state, UAB Hospital is responding to the growing number of patients. Anthony Patterson, UAB Hospital CEO, said staff is taking advantage of empty space in order to serve patients. “We have been managing this very tightly for several weeks now,” Patterson said. “So the things that we do (to) continue to serve the community, is we convert spaces within the hospital that were not originally intended for patients to be in overnight.” Patterson said this means using temporary recovery rooms for overnight stays. The influx of patients also results in elective procedures…

Students are mourning the loss of Destiny Washington, a UAB student that was shot and killed last night in the Hill Student Center parking lot. The shooting took place on UAB’s campus. A B-Alert notification was not sent to students, and some students were concerned about that choice. “B-Alerts are sent when there is an active threat to campus,” UAB wrote in an email to the student body. “UAB Police determined there was no active threat to campus at the time they were notified.” Some students, including Ryan Henderson, sophomore in biology, said they disagree and would have preferred to…

Updated 12/21 at 7:22 The Birmingham Police Department has confirmed an arrest in the homicide of Destiny Washington. Carlos Stephens, UAB student and former UAB student athlete, was taken into custody after turning himself in Saturday. “A capital murder warrant was obtained for the death of Destiny Washington,” The Birmingham Police Department said in a statement. The Birmingham Police Department said Stephens is currently in custody of the Jefferson County Jail with no bond. A spokesperson of the university confirmed that Stephens is currently a student at UAB and was a student athlete in 2017. On Dec. 17, UAB student,…

UAB Hospital received their first 10,725 doses of Pfizer’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine today. The first to be vaccinated are those on the frontlines, with 5,363 hospital based employees from UAB and 2,145 hospital based employees from non-UAB affiliated hospitals receiving the vaccine. In addition to those employees, clinic-based employees and Emergency Medical Service employees will also receive the first doses. Dr. Sarah Nafziger, co-director of UAB’s Emergency Management Committee, said vaccine distribution will begin on Thursday. Nafziger said possible side effects of the vaccine are similar to those that can be seen from a flu vaccine. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS/The…

COVID-19 vaccines are soon to arrive at UAB Hospital, but rural Alabama and underserved communities are still being hit hard by the virus. UAB is anticipated to receive close to 11,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine within the week. The vaccine will be given to UAB healthcare workers, EMS workers and workers from other hospitals in Jefferson County. Dr. William Curry, primary care physician and associate dean of UAB primary care and rural medicine, said healthcare workers throughout the state are struggling to meet the needs of COVID-19 positive patients. “From our smallest rural hospitals and health systems or clinics,…

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