Governor Brian Kemp and Commissioner Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., announced plans to add adults aged 65 and older, law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders to the current group of individuals eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Healthcare workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities are already in this highest priority group. The expanded administration of vaccine is expected to begin within the next two weeks provided there is adequate vaccine supply available.
While COVID-19 immunizations have begun in Northwest Georgia, but public health’s vaccine supply remains very limited.  The Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District will begin updating the public on vaccine availability on a weekly basis.

“Vaccine supply at the moment in Northwest Georgia remains very limited, and we are uncertain about how long it might be before it increases enough to allow us to begin immunizing individuals in the expanded Phase 1a groups.” says Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the Northwest Health District,”We will begin when there is adequate vaccine supply available.”

The ten-county health district will begin making weekly, public updates through news media, social media, and the district’s website (nwgapublichealth.org) with details on vaccine-and-immunization availability.

It is critical that even as vaccine becomes available to more people, all Georgians must continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently. While the COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective in preventing illness in the individual being vaccinated, it is not yet known if the vaccine fully prevents person to person transmission or asymptomatic infections.
For updates on COVID-19, follow @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Facebook.