Habersham Medical Center is set to receive the COVID vaccine in time for Christmas. “We just received notice that our vaccine shipment will be delivered tomorrow [Dec. 23] before close of business,” HMC spokesperson Kesha Clinkscale tells Now Habersham.
The announcement came just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, marking the end of a long, near ten-month wait for pandemic relief in rural Northeast Georgia.
Healthcare professionals have administered over 17,500 vaccinations statewide. The federal government has allocated nearly 300,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to the state so far. Half of those doses have been shipped.
COVID hotbed
Since the state’s COVID-19 outbreak began in March, Habersham County has recorded 3,167 cases and 84 deaths. Over 570 cases and three deaths were reported in the past two weeks. The Georgia Department of Public Health’s latest figures show the county’s two-week positivity rate is 17.2%.
Habersham’s positivity rate is high but many surrounding counties’ rates are even higher. The latest public health figures show Northeast Georgia is a hotbed of COVID activity.
The two-week positivity rate in Stephens County is 25.2%, and in Rabun County, it’s 25%. Other area counties with high positivity rates at or above 20% include Hall, Hart, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, and White.
Vaccinating frontline workers
The region’s largest healthcare provider received its first shipment of COVID vaccines on December 14. Northeast Georgia Health System is administering vaccinations to healthcare workers serving its four hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, and Dahlonega.
District 2 Public Health, which provides services to 13 counties in North Georgia, is also administering vaccines. The District held two clinics this week to vaccinate local emergency service workers.
Hall County EMS was the first group to go through. “From there, we will move forward with vaccinating these frontline workers in our other counties,” says District 2 spokesperson Dave Palmer.
Habersham County Emergency Services employees will get their shots through Habersham Medical Center, according to EMS director Chad Black. Clinkscale says the hospital is finalizing logistics now in preparation for the vaccine’s arrival on Wednesday.
“Our frontline healthcare workers will be the first to receive the vaccine,” she says. “We will receive guidance and work with the department of public health to roll out vaccination plans for future phases.”
‘Due diligence’
Vaccinations are not required for healthcare workers, and Black acknowledges there are concerns with the vaccine; still, he and other medical professionals strongly recommend it.
“I am going to take the vaccine,” Black tells Now Habersham. He encourages people to do their “due diligence” and look at all the “relevant information and facts” in making their decision on whether to get vaccinated.
“Please don’t let social media and misinformation be what guides your decision making,” Black urges. “Utilize relevant information and facts in those decisions for you and your family.”
