On May 21, Georgia will close its eight state-run mass vaccination sites. Between now and then, the sites will shift from administering the Pfizer vaccine to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
The sites, including the one in Clarkesville, will stop administering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine after April 30.
Medical professionals have administered 300,000 doses since the first mass vaccination sites opened in February. Officials say there’s been a notable decrease in demand over the last two weeks. One mass vaccination site in Albany has already shut down. Sites will remain open in Clarkesville, Columbus, Emerson, Hapeville, Macon, Sandersville, Savannah, and Waycross until next month.
“As supply and availability of the COVID-19 vaccines has dramatically increased across the state, far more Georgians are now able to easily access the vaccine at their local pharmacy, grocery store, or doctor’s office,” says Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Chris Stallings.
Stallings says transitioning to the single-dose J&J vaccine for the next month will allow the sites to continue operating while completing the vaccination cycle for Georgians who received a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. It will also give officials time to reallocate GEMA’s unused Pfizer doses to other local providers in Georgia.
Governor Brian Kemp praised the “hard work and dedication” of the GEMA/HS team over the last few months in getting the life-saving vaccine administered quickly and efficiently across the state. He says it’s now the state’s job to work closely with local providers, public health districts, private partners, and community leaders to encourage more Georgians to get vaccinated.
“These highly effective vaccines are our ticket back to normal,” Kemp says, “and the state stands ready to assist in getting more shots in arms moving forward.”
Georgia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey says her department will work with local communities to get the extra Pfizer doses administered.
“I continue to urge all Georgians to sign up to get their shot as soon as possible to ensure we protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors from COVID-19,” Toomey says.
The Department of Public Health announced Friday the state would follow the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and CDC in resuming administration of the J&J vaccine, which had been paused due to a rare but serious blood clotting disorder.
After an 11-day pause, federal health officials recommended states resume using the J&J COVID-19 vaccine with an updated fact sheet warning patients about the rare blood clotting disorder.
Everyone 16 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination, but only the Pfizer shot is authorized for use in younger teens. The company says its vaccine is safe for children as young as 12. Pfizer is now waiting on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to decide whether to amend its emergency use authorization to include the expanded age range.
In addition to closing the state-run mass vaccination sites, Georgia’s public health departments are adjusting their schedules and scaling back COVID-19 vaccination clinic hours and locations. Those changes do not affect the federally-run mass vaccination site at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where walk-ins are still welcome.
To schedule a vaccination at one of the state-operated sites through May 21, visit myvaccinegeorgia.gov. To schedule a vaccination at a local public health department, click here.
To locate other vaccination sites in your area, click here.
This article has been updated with additional information
