The Georgia Department of Public Health suspended The Medical Center of Elberton from the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program for six months for administering vaccinations to those not yet eligible to receive it.
The DPH was notified on January 26 that the medical practice vaccinated individuals in the Elbert County School District who were outside of the current Phase 1A+ eligible population. After an investigation, the DPH says it confirmed the information and suspended the facility.
During the suspension, The Medical Center of Elberton will not be eligible to receive new COVID-19 vaccine shipments but will be allowed to use its remaining vaccine inventory for second-doses.
Five other vaccine providers in Elbert County, including the Elbert County Health Department, will continue to receive vaccine.
The Medical Center issued a statement on social media Thursday saying, “We hope this is temporary and have appealed the state of Georgia’s decision regarding this matter.”
Elbert County School Superintendent Jon Jarvis told WXIA-TV in Atlanta that many of the district’s more than 500 employees have been eager to receive the vaccine.
“It’s hard to wear a mask when you’re trying to teach students sounds,” Jarvis said. “The vaccination for teachers, bus drivers, school nutrition workers … they should be considered in the first group in my opinion.”
Those eligible to receive vaccinations under phase 1A+ include healthcare workers, long-term care facility staff and residents, adults over 65 and their caregivers, as well as first responders.
In a statement to the media, DPH defended its decision: “It is critical that DPH maintains the highest standards for vaccine accountability to ensure all federal and state requirements are adhered to by all parties, and vaccine is administered efficiently and equitably.”
Some Georgia lawmakers are pushing to expand eligiblility to include teachers. Georgia Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux Wednesday sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to prioritize vaccinating teachers and school staff and to develop federal guidelines for testing, contact tracing, masks and more.
More than a dozen school board members from districts across metro Atlanta sent Kemp a similar letter, calling on the state to prioritize vaccines for school staff. Kemp says he shares their concerns and those of people with disabilities but adds, at the moment, there are simply not enough doses to meet demand.
This article has been updated to reflect that The Medical Center of Elberton is a medical practice, not a hospital as previously identified
