A COVID-19 vaccine appointment hotline will open on Jan.18 as Alabama moves forward to inoculate first responders and people 75 and older. The state health department on Friday announced the hotline, which will only address county health department appointments for older adults and eligible first responders, and issued a plea to the public to stop calling local hospitals about vaccinations. "Please do not call your local hospital directly to set up appointments to be scheduled to receive your COVID-19 vaccine," the Alabama Department of Public Health said in an emailed statement. "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."