The Georgia Department of Public Health suspended the Elberton Medical Center from the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program for six months to administer vaccines to those who were not yet eligible to receive it.
DPH was notified on January 26 that medical practice vaccinated individuals in the school district of Elbert County who were outside the current eligible Phase 1A + population. After an investigation, DPH claims to have confirmed the information and suspended the installation.
During the suspension, the Elberton Medical Center will not be eligible to receive new shipments of COVID-19 vaccines, but will be allowed to use its remaining vaccine stock for the second doses.
Five other vaccine suppliers in Elbert County, including the Elbert County Department of Health, will continue to receive the vaccine.
The Medical Center released a statement on social media on Thursday, saying, “We hope it is temporary and we appeal to the decision of the state of Georgia on this matter.”
Elbert County School Superintendent Jon Jarvis told WXIA-TV in Atlanta that many of the district’s more than 500 employees were eager to receive the vaccine.
“It is difficult to wear a mask when trying to teach sounds to students,” said Jarvis. “Vaccination for teachers, bus drivers, school nutritionists … they should be considered in the first group in my opinion.”
Eligible to receive vaccines in phase 1A + include health professionals, employees and residents of long-term care facilities, adults over 65 and their caregivers, as well as first responders.
In a statement to the media, DPH defended its decision: “It is essential that DPH maintain the highest standards of responsibility for the vaccine to ensure that all federal and state requirements are met by all parties and the vaccine is administered efficiently. and equitable ”.
Some Georgia lawmakers are pushing to expand eligibility to include teachers. Georgia Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux on Wednesday sent a Letter President Joe Biden, urging him to prioritize vaccinating teachers and school staff and developing federal guidelines for testing, contact tracking, masks and more.
More than a dozen district school board members across the Atlanta metropolitan area sent Kemp a Letter, calling on the state to prioritize vaccines for school staff. Kemp says he shares his concerns and those of people with disabilities, but adds, at the moment, there are simply not enough doses to meet the demand.
This article has been updated to reflect that the Elberton Medical Center is a medical practice, not a hospital as previously identified
