The Northeastern Health District has an appointment-based COVID-19 vaccination and testing site at Oneta St. 355 opened in Athens, according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Georgia has started offering COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older and first responders. The vaccine was already available to health workers and residents of long-term care facilities.
According to the release, the new vaccination site has been opened to keep up with demand. Although there were previously drive-through test sites on Mitchell Bridge Road in Athens and at the Winterville Center for Community and Culture, both were closed.
Eligible candidates must make an appointment online or by telephone. People living or working in the Northeastern Health District are given priority – which includes the counties of Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton. Vaccinations and tests are free on site.
The two available vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, have shown similar side effects, including temporary pain in the arm, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain and fever. Vaccinations are given in two doses, a few weeks apart, and have an effectiveness of 94-95% in clinical trials.
Despite the availability of vaccines, dr. District Health Director Stephen Goggans warned in the release that supply was limited, and urged people to continue wearing masks in public and giving up social distance, even as the vaccine was rolled out.
Correction: Dr. Stephen Goggans’ name was misspelled in a previous version of this article. The Red and Black regret this mistake, and it has since been rectified.