State officials expand vaccine eligibility to millions more Georgians
Jonathan O’Brien | Reporter
(Milledgeville, Ga) — Next Monday, an additional 3.3 million Georgians will be able to roll up their sleeve for the coronavirus vaccine.
Gov. Brian Kemp March 10, 2021
The updated criteria includes everyone 55 and older and those over 16 with specific health conditions ranging from cancer to obesity.
“Adding these additional high-risk Georgians will mean that vaccinations will be available to categories that have accounted for 92% of our deaths due to COVID-19,” Governor Brian Kemp said. "As we have said from the beginning of this pandemic, we will protect the most vulnerable from severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and ensure that Georgians can get back to normal as soon as possible,"
The announcement came just two days after health officials added educators in the state to the eligibility list. Even if you don’t meet the current criteria, the governor said officials want everyone to pre-register at MyVaccineGeorgia.com. The state will notify you when you’re able to get the shot.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia has the lowest vaccination rate by population in the country.
Hoping to get the inoculation rate up, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) has established nine mass vaccination sites around the state. One will open in Sandersville on March 17th.
The governor expects to open vaccinations up to “all-adults” by the first week of April.