Driving COVID-19 vaccination, opening of a test site in Athens | Athensnews



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The Northeast Health District on Tuesday opened a COVID-19 vaccination and testing site by appointment at 355 Oneta Street in Athens, according to a press release from the Georgia Ministry of Public Health.

Georgia has started offering COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 years of age and older and to first responders. The vaccine is already available to healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

The new drive-thru vaccination site was opened to meet demand, the statement said. While there were previously drive-thru test sites on Mitchell Bridge Road in Athens and at the Winterville Center for Community and Culture, both have been closed.

Eligible people must make an appointment online or by phone. Priority is given to people living or working in the Northeast Health District – which includes Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton counties. Vaccines and tests are free on the site.

The two available vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, have shown similar potential side effects, including temporary arm pain, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and fever. The vaccines will be given in two doses spaced several weeks apart and were 94-95% effective in clinical trials.

Despite the availability of vaccines, Dr Stephen Goggans, district health director, warned in the statement that the supply is limited and urged people to continue to wear masks in public and practice social distancing even then. that the vaccine is started.


Correction: Dr Stephen Goggans name was misspelled in a previous version of this article. Red & Black regrets this error, and it has since been corrected.

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