Booster dose approval, mass vaccination centers in District 2 to reopen
Community September 27, 2021
GAINESVILLE – Booster vaccine doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been approved for specific groups of fully vaccinated individuals. Although the booster dose is not required, it will help fully vaccinated people maintain protection over the coming months.
It is important to note, COVID-19 vaccines are working well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, but with the introduction of the Delta variant, public health experts noticed a reduction of protections against mild and moderate disease.
Booster vaccine doses are approved for the following groups of people who received their second Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago: Recommendations will only apply to individuals who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for their primary series
- 65 years and older
- Residents of long-term care facilities
- 18 and older with underlying medical conditions that put a person at high-risk
- 18 and older who have an occupational or institutional exposure risk
The approval is for the Pfizer vaccine ONLY. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccines have not been approved for additional booster doses, right now there is not enough data to support a booster dose recommendation. Both Moderna and J&J are expected to submit data to the FDA in support of booster doses in the coming weeks.
District 2 Public Health and Northeast Georgia Health System want to provide the community an opportunity to be vaccinated with ease and remind the community it is important to get fully vaccinated to keep our communities safe and to stop the spread of COVID-19. District 2 will re-open mass vaccination sites in most of its 13 counties as of September 27.
The following counties will begin administering all doses of the Pfizer vaccine and will have first dose Moderna and J&J vaccines available upon request on September 27:
All Health Departments will be vaccinating every other Saturday. Hall and Forsyth health departments will be vaccinating every Saturday starting October 2. Check with your local health department for Saturday hours and location.
- Banks County – City of Homer Fire Department – 243 Sycamore St., Homer, GA 30547
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Dawson County – Fire Station #2 – 8388 Hwy 53, Dawsonville, GA 30534
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Franklin County – Franklin Co. Recreation Department – 557 Rocky Ford Rd., Carnesville, GA 30531
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Forsyth County – Northside Forsyth Hospital – 1800 Northside Forsyth Dr. suite 360, Cumming, GA 30041
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – 8:30 am to 12:00 pm (at the Forsyth Co. Health Department, October 2)
- Habersham County – Cornelia First Presbyterian – 469 N. Main St. Cornelia GA, 30531
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Hall County – Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center – 1855 Calvary Church Rd., Gainesville, GA 30507
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – 8:30am to 12:00pm (Starts on October 2)
- Hart County – Flat Shoals Baptist Church – 2999 Bowersville Hwy, Bowersville, GA 30516
Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Towns County – Towns County Recreations Department – 150 Foster Park Rd. Hiawassee, GA 30512
Monday and Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Tuesday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- White County – The Bridge Church – 607 Hulsey Rd. Cleveland, GA 30528
Monday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lumpkin, Rabun, and Union Counties will continue offering COVID vaccines at the health departments until demand requires a move to a larger location.
Appointments are not required. If an individual prefers to schedule an appointment, they may do so using the VRAS scheduling system via the District 2 Public Health website. Hours of operation and locations may change due to demand. Reference the schedule of locations and hours posted on the public health website to ensure the vaccine site in your county is operational.
For more information on the COVID-19 booster dose visit the CDC website to learn more.
New Guidelines and Resources for High Risk Citizens
Community, News April 15, 2020
Raymond Tidman, MD
Blue Ridge, Ga. – Raymond Tidman, MD and Dillon Miller, MD of Blue Ridge Medical Group are releasing new guidelines to help protect those at greatest risk in our community from contracting Covid-19.
Members of the community that are in the high risk category are those that are 65 years or older, or those with COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), diabetes, severe obesity, heart disease, receiving treatment for cancer or have a condition that causes immune suppression.
Tidman and Miller are saying to those in this category, “We want you to build protection around you now and until there is a vaccine.”
They are recommending following the directions in place by Health Officials of self isolation, but to also be super aware of those that you allow in your presence. They are recommending that individuals in the high risk category identify a limited number of people you depend on to be around.
Make sure that the people who you do have to have contact with are aware of your situation and take the proper steps to protect you from the virus.
“This is to encourage you to build a virus free fortress around you, and yet allow you the personal contacts that you feel you need and trust,” Tidman and Miller say of the precautions.
Tidman and Miller want all of those who have symptoms or have had known contact to someone positive with the Covid-19 virus to move to the front of the line to be tested.
If you are in this high risk category and have been around someone with symptoms have them contact Blue Ridge Medical Group at this number: 706-946-4240. This is a dedicated line for this purpose and will be frequently monitored.
“If they have symptoms have them contact the number and we will be available to test them quickly,” Tidman and Miller sate in a release. “We will be a resource to them on the latest developments in defeating this virus.”
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