The Habersham County mass vaccination site administered 1,008 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Monday, and according to coordinator Don Strength, things went smoothly.
“There have been some logistical issues, primarily this morning when we first started, but since then, our staff has pitched in and figured things out,” says Strength, who serves as the Area 1 Field Coordinator for the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. “I could not be happier with how things have gone today.”
People from all over North Georgia traveled to the Habersham County Fairgrounds on the site’s first day of operation; others came from metro Atlanta to get their injections. The site is open to anyone in the state who is eligible to receive a vaccine and has an appointment.
Georgia is still in Phase 1A+ of its vaccine administration plan. Currently, the vaccine is only available to healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and staff, first responders, and those 65 and up and their caregivers.
Three other mass vaccination sites opened up Monday in Georgia. They’re located in Albany, Macon, and Hapeville. All but the Albany site require appointments. The sites are being run by GEMA/HS with assistance from FEMA, the Georgia National Guard, State Patrol, and healthcare workers.
Georgia residents may schedule appointments for any of the mass vaccination sites online at MyVaccineGeorgia. Those currently ineligible may register through the same website to be notified when they do become eligible to receive the vaccine.
For those arriving at their appointments in Habersham, Strength encourages them to turn their radios to 90.3 FM. “When you come on-site, […] there’s a full slate of instructions on there for you while you’re on property, so you’ll understand what the process is.”
The mass vaccination sites will remain open for the foreseeable future.
During a tour of the Clarkesville location last week, Strength said, “We don’t know exactly how long this is going to go, but it’s going to continue until the job is done.”
