The Georgia Department of Public Health has created an article to equip citizens with the latest facts and information about the COVID-19 vaccines. They have requested GMA share this information with our members.
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to ramp up throughout Georgia, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is equipping you with the latest facts and updates.
Here’s what you need to know:
Eligible Populations for the COVID-19 Vaccine in Georgia:
We recently expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to educators and school staff, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers, parents of children with complex medical conditions, adults aged 55+, individuals aged 16+ with certain medical conditions, and individuals aged 16+ with disabilities. We are still vaccinating all previously eligible groups, including healthcare workers, law enforcement, fire personnel, first responders, educators and school staff, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and adults aged 65+ and their caregivers. For more details on these eligible groups, please visit dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness:
Approved COVID-19 vaccines have undergone many clinical trials, rigorous reviews, and intense safety monitoring, and scientists hold COVID-19 vaccines to the same high standard as any other vaccine. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists had studied similar viruses and were able to use their previous research to get a head start on developing COVID-19 vaccines.
The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is highly effective at preventing severe cases of COVID-19, and there were no deaths or hospitalizations among clinical trial participants. As additional COVID-19 vaccines are approved, we are working to increase vaccine supply across all of Georgia.
Updated CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after getting your final shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. After two weeks, you may visit with other fully vaccinated people and low-risk unvaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing. Additionally, if you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine or get tested unless you have symptoms. You should continue to wear a mask and stay six feet apart in public places. For more information and guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, visit the CDC website.
How to Register for a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment:
Curious to know if you qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine? Visit dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine to check your eligibility. Not currently eligible yet? You can sign up to receive email updates and learn when it will be your turn to receive the vaccine.
If you are eligible, you must schedule an appointment before going to a vaccination site. To register for a COVID-19 vaccine, visit dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine to find information about scheduling at local health department vaccination sites or GEMA mass vaccination sites.
The latest information on Georgia’s vaccine roll-out is also available on the DPH website and our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Visit the DPH YouTube for English and Spanish language videos detailing key facts about the approved COVID-19 vaccines.