The City of Dunwoody doesn’t have an official role in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, but it’s very important to me to stay informed and share what I learn with all of you.

During a legislative briefing last week, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, the Georgia Public Health commissioner, explained that the allocation of vaccines is controlled by the federal government, and quantity is the main limiting factor in getting the vaccines distributed. The state is receiving about 120,000 vaccine doses a week, but about 40,000 of those are reserved for nursing home residents. (This should change in the next week or so as Walgreens and CVS have enough doses to complete those vaccinations.)

We have now administered about 535,000 doses. There are about 2 million people who are eligible in Phase 1A+.

Be sure to check your primary care or other medical provider’s patient portal to see if they have information about securing a vaccine through them. There are providers who have signed up to administer vaccines, but there is no supply for them yet. Additionally, the state is aware that many frail, elderly people, who are not in nursing homes, cannot visit a vaccine site. The Georgia Department of Public Health is working with providers who will make home visits, but the current limitation is vaccine supply.

Finally, on Thursday, Dr. Toomey announced that any Georgian can be vaccinated at any health department in the state. While this is not yet a statewide tool to search availability, you can find the contact information for health departments across the state at dph.georgia.gov/locations/covid-vaccination-site

I will continue to provide updates through the City of Dunwoody newsletter, on my Facebook page and through my newsletter. The message from public health officials is clear — everyone who wants a vaccine will eventually get one.

I am hopeful that we will see an increase in flow of the vaccine in the next few weeks.

Lynn Deutsch, Mayor of Dunwoody

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