On April 15, Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey and city leaders from across the state joined GMA in a press conference to promote the “It’s Worth a Shot” COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign. This campaign was built to contribute to Gov. Brian Kemp’s and DPH’s goal to vaccinate as many Georgians as possible during spring and early summer 2021, and ultimately reach a vaccination rate of 70 to 80 percent and achieve herd immunity.
Speakers at the press conference included Dr. Toomey, who has led Georgia’s response to the pandemic; Union City Mayor Vince Williams, GMA President; LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, GMA First Vice President; Hawkinsville Commissioner Shelly Berryhill, who survived COVID-19; and GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson.
GMA and its 537 member cities are working to provide information about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy to Georgians and urge them to take their shot. The initiative includes local events, social media messaging and community ambassadors, all of which are intended to educate Georgians and dispel misinformation surrounding the vaccine. City officials are among the most trusted public figures, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center report, and GMA is glad to have local leaders dedicated to delivering this message.