The state opened the gates to its mass COVID-19 drive-through vaccination site at the Habersham County Fairgrounds on Monday.
Local business owners can expect an uptick in customers as people from all over the state come to Habersham to get their shots, says Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Area 1 Coordinator Don Strength. Healthcare workers at the fairgrounds are equipped to administer vaccinations to 1,100 people per day; that’s approximately two-thirds of the entire population of Clarkesville.
Mass Vaccination Sites Fact Sheet
Habersham is one of only four mass vaccination sites in the state. The three others are also opening today in Bibb, Dougherty, and Fulton counties. All four sites will operate from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays for the foreseeable future. “We don’t know exactly how long this is going to go,” Strength told community leaders during a tour on Friday, “but it’s going to continue until the job is done.”
Appointments are required at all but the Albany site and must be made through the GEMA/HS portal at MyVaccineGeorgia. Only those currently eligible under Phase 1A+ may make an appointment. Others may register to be notified when they become eligible to receive the vaccine.
Preventing traffic headaches
While some Habersham County residents have expressed concerns over potential traffic, officials are confident they can manage it. Vehicles will be entering the fairgrounds at the main entrance off of U.S. 17/Toccoa Highway.
“Our intent is for nobody to have to wait out on the highway here. Ever,” says Strength. “We will do whatever we possibly can do at this facility to ensure that Toccoa Highway is not backed up.”
Flashing signs mark the entrance. Those with appointments will remain in their vehicles as they make their way around the fairgrounds to sign-in and get vaccinated. Afterward, workers will direct them to a designated parking area where they’ll wait in their vehicles for the required observation period as staff schedules their follow-up dose.
The state is administering the Pfizer vaccine at its mass vaccination sites and second doses should be administered within 21 days.
Habersham County Emergency Services recorded a drive-through tour of the site to give the public an idea of what to expect.
The site will also have a separate traffic route at the fairgrounds to keep the Habersham Animal Shelter accessible.
Why Habersham?
Habersham, Dougherty, Bibb, and Fulton counties were chosen as regional vaccination hubs to reach underserved populations that have been hardest hit by the virus. “The four sites selected all have surrounding populations with high percentages of minorities and individuals with incomes below the poverty line,” explained GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings when announcing the locations last week.
GEMA/HS is overseeing the sites with assistance from other state agencies including the Georgia National Guard and State Patrol, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and healthcare workers.
This article has been updated to reflect that appointments are not required at the Albany site
