Georgia’s public health departments are now taking appointments for people aged 65 and older who want the COVID vaccine. The shots will be available to those in that age group beginning next week.
Health department phones are ringing off the hook from callers eager to sign up. White County Health Department Nurse Manager Cindy King told local officials their department has had an unbelievable response to requests for COVID shots. King said the White County Health Department had over 100 calls waiting Tuesday morning.
The Habersham County Public Health Department is also experiencing high call volumes. The earliest appointments now available in Habersham are at the end of January.
If you’re 65 and older and want the vaccine, you may schedule an appointment by calling your local health department. In Habersham County call 706-778-7156. In White County call 706-865-2191. For other area public health department phone numbers, click here.
You may also schedule an appointment online. Visit the District 2 Public Health and Northeast Health District websites for more information.
Phased rollout
Georgia is still in the initial Phase 1A of its vaccine rollout. Officials expanded the eligibility criteria to speed up the process and get as many people in at-risk populations vaccinated as possible. Other people currently eligible to receive vaccines in Georgia are healthcare workers, first responders, and nursing home residents.
It’s not clear when the next phases will start. A lot depends on how much vaccine is available. More than a dozen governors have complained about receiving far fewer doses than they were originally promised.
Now that more Georgians are eligible for vaccinations, the state has to marshal its resources. North Georgia’s public health departments are drastically cutting back on COVID testing.
After this Friday, health departments in 13 area counties will no longer provide free COVID testing to the general public. They will continue to test symptomatic first responders, school personnel, and court system employees, but hours will be limited. Tests will be provided by appointment only.
“We have limited staff and cannot continue to test, provide health services, and vaccinate people,” explains District 2 Public Health spokesperson Dave Palmer.
At the close of business this Friday, District 2 Public Health will shut down its testing site in Franklin County. After that, the Hall County COVID testing center will be the only public health test site in the region.
District 2 serves Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties. Residents in those areas will now have to make an appointment by phone and travel to Hall if they want to get tested. The number is 1-888-426-5073.
“This change will help meet the demand for providing vaccines to more people as we work through the [vaccination] phases identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” says Palmer.
Remaining phases
There’s still no word on when the state will open up Phase 1B of its COVID vaccine rollout. That next phase will include other essential workers and those at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. Included in this group are pharmacy staff, educational faculty and staff, correctional facility staff, court employees, food processors, grocery store workers, transportation staff, nuclear power plant employees, and air traffic controllers.
Phase 1C will include other essential workers and adults below age 65 with significant comorbidities.
While the COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective in preventing illness, it is unknown if the vaccine fully prevents person-to-person transmission or asymptomatic infections. As the vaccine rollout continues, health officials urge people to continue to wear masks, wash their hands, and observe social distancing.
