University of Georgia
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Update: New Vaccine Eligibility Authorized in Georgia

Date:
Posted on
To:
  • UGA Faculty, Staff, and Students
From:
  • Dr. Garth Russo, Executive Director of the University Health Center (Chair, Medical Oversight Task Force)
  • Dr. Marsha Davis, Dean of the College of Public Health
  • Dr. Lisa Nolan, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Dr. Shelley Nuss, Campus Dean of the AU/UGA Medical Partnership

Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health have announced that, beginning Monday, March 15, 2021, the following populations will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Georgia: adults aged 55 and older, individuals with disabilities, and individuals 16 and older with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Those conditions include asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, overweight/obesity, immunocompromised state, and numerous other conditions listed on the DPH website. 

The University Health Center will soon begin contacting eligible individuals to schedule appointments that will start next week. Invitations will be extended to groups in this order:

  1. 55 or older with comorbidities
  2. 55-64 without comorbidities
  3. 16-54 with comorbidities (splitting this group in half to first address those who are 35-54 and then those who are 16-34).

If the number in a group exceeds the available supply of vaccine, a random sample of individuals in the identified group will be utilized. This process will continue in accordance with the volume of vaccine received each week.

Please know that you will be contacted by the University Health Center when it is your turn to be vaccinated. Vaccines will only be given by appointment, and we are being very careful to ensure that no vaccine is wasted. Per UGA Human Resources, you will not need to take leave for your vaccine appointments. We have prepared a brief video that explains how the process is managed at the University Health Center. If you have not already watched the video, we encourage you to do so.

When you are contacted by the UHC, please make your appointment as soon as possible. With every person we vaccinate, our community becomes safer and stronger. To learn more details about vaccines and UGA’s process for administering them, visit the UHC’s FAQs. If you feel you have a disability not included as a comorbidity listed by the DPH, please use the survey link associated with the eligibility criteria on the FAQ page to enable the UHC to consider your situation.

If you are now eligible to receive the vaccine, please understand that you may be immunized at any number of sites across the state. We are offering a service to the University community by providing immunizations in a convenient location at the University Health Center, but we certainly understand that the limits of our vaccine supply might motivate some members of our campus community to seek earlier appointments elsewhere.

We continue to ask for your patience and understanding as we work to administer the vaccine in an orderly and efficient manner in adherence with the phased structure that is prescribed. We must abide by CDC and GDPH guidelines for administration until everyone who wants a vaccine gets a vaccine. You will be notified as additional information becomes available.

We urge you to continue to remain diligent in washing your hands, wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding crowds, even if you have already received both doses of the vaccine. We also strongly encourage you to take advantage of our continuing surveillance testing that is being offered. Testing at Legion Field can be scheduled through the VetViewwebsite.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to keep our community Georgia Strong/Dawg Strong.