Albany mass COVID vaccination site moving back to appointments after increased demand

Appointments will once again be required at Albany’s mass vaccination site for those eligible in Georgia’s Phase 1A+ category.

Walk-ins will be accepted this week only at the 1150 Oakridge Drive site, according to a press release from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Vaccines will be given on a first come, first served basis, said Lisa Rodriguez-Presley, GEMA/HS External Affairs Supervisor.

Appointments will be required again at all four vaccination sites starting next week after a spike in vaccine participation, GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings said Thursday. Moving back to appointments will ensure that enough supply remains for those eligible.

Eligibility is still limited to Georgians in the Phase 1A+ category, which includes health care workers, nursing home and long-term care facility staff and residents, adults over 65, first responders and others. Officials announced Thursday that teachers and staff, as well as residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities will become eligible for the vaccine starting March 8.

Though the state’s three other vaccination sites were nearly booked for this week, Albany had filled only about 4% of its available appointments.

As of Monday, roughly 200 vaccinations were scheduled in Albany for the week, said Stallings in a previous press conference. Each site is capable of administering 1,100 vaccinations per day, and 5,500 vaccinations per week.

In Albany, public health officials have found that the creation of vaccination sites is only half the battle. Many residents are hesitant about taking the vaccine. Dr. Dianna Grant, the chief medical officer for Phoebe Putney Health System, said she’s seen widespread distrust of the vaccine, especially among Black Albanians — and for good reason.

“They feel that distrust, a historical distrust,” Grant told the Ledger-Enquirer. “Because of the mere fact — and they will tell you — ‘now you come to my community, when you want to give me something, and you’re not here already. So why should I trust you, you don’t want to be here every day.’”

Grant and other leaders in Albany are trying to soothe vaccine hesitancy by speaking at local religious meetings, spreading awareness door to door and being transparent about their own experiences with the vaccine.

Kemp said the low vaccination enrollment in Albany was part of why he visited the city on Feb 21. He plans to work with local partners to increase vaccination numbers in southwest Georgia.

“We’ve seen heavy demand in three of the four sites but we have lagging a bit in Albany, which is one reason I went down there yesterday,” Kemp said at the GEMA press conference Monday.

The state projects 1,100 vaccinations per site, per day, for a total of 22,000 vaccines per week.

ADDRESSES

The mass vaccination sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following locations:

• Delta Air Museum (844-275-5425), 1220 Woolman Place SW, Hapeville, Georgia 30354

• Albany Georgia Forestry Site (844-275-3428), 1150 Oakridge Drive, Albany, GA 31701

• Habersham County Fairgrounds (844-275-5388), 4235 Toccoa Highway Clarkesville, GA 30523

• Macon Farmers Market (844-274-9841), 2055 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, GA 31206

Visit myvaccinegeorgia.com for more information.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify information about Georgia’s Phase 1A+ category.

This story was originally published February 24, 2021 at 6:00 AM.