North Central Health District

North Central Health District’s COVID-19 Vaccine Has Arrived

Posted December 23, 2020 by Michael Hokanson

Shipments Received by Public Health Staff Dec. 23

North Central Health District (NCHD) received the first shipments of COVID-19 for the district Wednesday, Dec. 23. 1,300 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which does not require ultracold storage, arrived at multiple public health locations in the 13-county Central Georgia health district

“This is a very exiting time for our health district,” said Judy McChargue, NCHD District Nursing Director. “We’ve been awaiting COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna since the EUA was established. This vaccine will be a great tool to help protect the frontline workers that have given so much during this pandemic.”

NCHD and the Department of Public Health are following recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the CDC for vaccine distribution. Vaccination for the groups in Phase 1A will begin Monday, Dec. 28. Those that are eligible for vaccination in this group include:

• Healthcare providers
  • This group includes paid and unpaid people serving in a healthcare setting who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and includes, but is no limited to: physicians, nurses, dentists, laboratory workers, environmental services, EMS, fire department that provides health services, etc.
• Employees and residents of long-term care facilities

NCHD will begin vaccinating public health staff in the coming days. A broader vaccination program for Phase 1A individuals in NCHD’s 13 counties will begin Monday, Dec. 28.

On Saturday, Dec. 26., those that are eligible for vaccination can begin scheduling appointments to receive the COVID-19 through public health. Individuals in Phase 1A can call 1-844-987-0099 to schedule appointments beginning Monday. Dec. 28. Anyone that schedules an appointment for vaccination will be required to show workplace identification from a healthcare or long-term care facility at the time of vaccination.

Once vaccination begins, people in Phase 1A will be able to receive vaccine Mondays through Saturdays. Vaccine will be provided by appointment at one of two closed drive-thru points of dispensing. Only those with an appointment will be allowed at these locations.

As COVID-19 vaccine supply becomes more available, more groups will be eligible to receive the vaccine. NCHD will continue to share information as we move through the Phase 1 groups.

“Our first goal is to vaccinate the vaccinators and those that have experienced high-risk of COVID-19,” said McChargue. “It will take some time to move through each phase and group prioritized for vaccination, but we’re looking forward to the day when the vaccine is offered to everyone in our communities.”

Additional information about distribution and first local administration of vaccine will be coming soon.

Photos of staff receiving Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shipments are available for use here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/169mAhLDyoWzZlyjRT6oQaFm1RqqOu7Sl?usp=sharing

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, including safety information, EUA documents, post-vaccination reporting, eligibility and more, visit NCHD52.org/covidvaccine. For additional Georgia COVID-19 vaccine information, visit dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.