Amid criticism from state lawmakers about a slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Alabama, the state announced Wednesday it would begin “removing” unused vaccine doses from clinics or pharmacies that are not giving it out quickly enough and send the limited vaccine supplies elsewhere.

The Alabama Department of Public Health issued a news release Wednesday afternoon to address “misunderstandings” about the vaccination efforts in the state and announce that the new policy of “removing” unused vaccine doses from hospitals, pharmacies or other providers and sending them to places that can use it faster.

“In response to concerns that some providers are failing to administer their allotments of vaccine on a timely basis, ADPH will begin removing vaccine supplies from providers who are not administering vaccine in a timely way,” the department said.

“ADPH is surveying all providers in the state to ensure that all administered doses have been properly reported to ADPH, and to determine whether there is any available vaccine that needs to be redistributed elsewhere.”.

But the state is under pressure to distribute the vaccine more quickly.

In the waning days of the Trump administration, the CDC announced a policy to reward states that distribute the vaccine quickly with larger allocations in the future.

“Every person who receives a COVID-19 shot is deserving of one and will receive it, as we are determined to make sure that no vaccine is sitting unused on the shelf,” Alabama State Health Officer Dr.

ADPH says no vaccine doses have been discarded in Alabama thus far, and the ADPH now offers a map of providers that offer the vaccine on its web site.