This information comes from the Georgia Department of Public Health:

ROME, GA: COVID-19 immunizations have begun in Northwest Georgia, including Walker County, but public health’s vaccine supply remains very limited.  The Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District will begin updating the public on vaccine availability on a weekly basis.

Phase 1a of Georgia’s COVID-19 vaccination plan initially included only healthcare workers and residents of Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs). The Northwest Health District and local county health department staff have already begun immunizing area healthcare workers. Retail pharmacies are immunizing LTCF residents.

Governor Kemp has now expanded Phase 1a to include adults aged 65 and older, law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders. “Our ability to begin immunizing individuals in these groups will depend on vaccine availability,” says Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the Northwest Health District.

“Vaccine supply at the moment in Northwest Georgia remains very limited, and we are uncertain about how long it might be before it increases enough to allow us to begin immunizing individuals in the expanded Phase 1a groups. We will begin when there is adequate vaccine supply available.”

The ten-county health district, which includes Walker County, will begin making weekly, public updates through news media, social media, and the district’s website (nwgapublichealth.org) with details on vaccine-and-immunization availability.

COVID-19 vaccinations of local healthcare workers and medical first responders in the Phase 1a category is now underway in Walker County. We anticipate Phase 1a vaccination criteria will be expanded next week to include adults 65 and older, law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders, contingent on adequate vaccine supply. When a drive-thru public vaccination clinic is scheduled in Walker County, we will share that information.

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We are currently in Phase 1: Limited COVID-19 Vaccine Availability

Phase 1-A

Phase 1-A will include paid and unpaid persons serving in a healthcare setting who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. Hospital staff, public health clinical staff, EMS, and other first responders, long term care facility (LTCF) staff, and urgent care facility staff are examples of people who will be included in this phase.

Additional examples include:

• Staff in clinical settings (e.g., physicians, nurses, pharmacists, EMS, laboratory staff, environmental services, LTCF staff etc.)
• LTCF Residents

Phase 1-B

Phase 1-B will include other essential workers and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

Examples of people that will be included in this Phase are listed below:

• Police and fire personnel not covered under Phase 1-A
• Critical workforce employees (e.g., pharmacy staff, educational faculty and staff, correctional facility staff, court employees, food processors, grocery store workers, transportation staff, nuclear power plant employees, air traffic controllers, etc.)
• All adults 75 and older and those 65 and older with significant comorbidities and their caregivers

Phase 1-C

Phase 1-C will include people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, not vaccinated during Phase 1-A or Phase 1-B.

Examples of this population include:

• Other essential workers
• Adults below age 65 with significant comorbidities