Andalusia florist encouraging vaccinations as a tribute to wife
Published 4:57 pm Wednesday, July 28, 2021
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Wednesday morning, Alan Cotton, owner of Alan Cotton’s Florist, went on WAAO to encourage people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in a vaccine clinic planned for the Andalusia campus of LBW Community College on Thursday.
It’s only been 11 days since Alan lost his beloved wife and business partner, Angela South Cotton, to the virus, about 10 days after she got sick. Alan said Angie had chosen not to be vaccinated because of allergic reactions she sometimes had to medications. Alan had been vaccinated, and though he also tested positive, his symptoms were very mild.
“I don’t want anyone to face what we went through,” Alan said.
As extra incentive, Alan plans to provide a long-stemmed white rose in memory of his wife to anyone who is vaccinated on Thursday at LBW.
Wednesday afternoon, Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson stopped by to visit with Alan, and to thank him for making a public plea for vaccinations. “Thank you for what you are doing,” the mayor said, adding that he has serious concerns about how deadly the pandemic could become if more people don’t become vaccinated. Fewer than 30 percent of Covington County residents are fully vaccinated, and as of this morning, there had been 222 new cases of COVID in the county in the past 14 days.
For those who have not been vaccinated, the Alabama Department of Public Health will offer free COVID-19 vaccines on the Andalusia Campus of LBW tomorrow, Thursday, July 29, in student center, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Moderna (2 doses required) and Johnson & Johnson (one dose) vaccines will be available at the clinic.
And in memory of Angela South Cotton, white roses will be, too.