Booster dose approval, mass vaccination centers in District 2 to reopen

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.