Coronavirus (Source: WALB) By Jamie Worsley | March 11, 2021 at 6:00 PM EST - Updated March 11 at 6:00 PM
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - One year ago, cases of the coronavirus began to emerge in the Southwest Georgia Public Health District (SWHD).
Looking back, Dr. Charles Ruis with the Southwest Public Health District said these cases were just the beginning of the pandemic in our area, and the start of our very own “Ground Zero.”
“It was the second week of March, early in the second week of March, we realized that someone had been an inpatient at Phoebe, who had had COVID. That was a huge shock. But that was just the beginning of many shockwaves that would come to us,” said Ruis.
Staff Reports
Mar 11, 2021
ALBANY, Ga. âThe Southwest Public Health District has received an allotment of Johnson & Johnsonâs COVID-19 vaccines. Public health leadership is encouraging those who currently qualify to receive a vaccine to consider the benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a âone and doneâ option.
Public health officials caution the public against directly comparing the study results from Johnson & Johnson with those from Moderna and Pfizer because of the timing of the research, the public health district said in a press release. Pfizer and Moderna vaccine studies occurred predominantly during the summer before any of the variants were really a factor.Â
Southwest Health District receives Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Southwest Health District receives Johnson & Johnson vaccines By Molly Godley | March 12, 2021 at 12:42 PM EST - Updated March 12 at 12:56 PM
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Department of Public Health Southwest District has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Director Dr. Charles Ruis said they plan to use this vaccine on groups struggling to get to the health department. Some vaccines are also going to Early County.
Dr. Ruis said groups like teachers, the homeless, and those with mobility issues will be target groups for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
He said, as the supply increases, they’ll consider going to businesses.
Southwest Public Health ends Saturday COVID-19 testing in Dougherty Co walb.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from walb.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Dougherty Co. Task Force discusses vaccines and vaccination sites
Dougherty Co. Task Force discusses vaccines and vaccination sites By Molly Godley | February 26, 2021 at 7:27 PM EST - Updated February 26 at 8:10 PM
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) -The external affairs supervisor said the GEMA vaccination site had a little over 1,000 people registered for appointments Friday. Leaders discussed the importance of using the site, as well as why they started off so low.
The GEMA vaccination site will no longer be taking drive-ups.
External Affair Supervisor Lisa Rodriguez-Presley said they never intended to accept drive-ups.
“We’ve been seeing dramatic increases in the number of people who have been coming to the site to get the vaccination,” said Rodriguez-Presley.