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Adapted from the Georgia Department of Public Health Non-Medical Newsletter

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue throughout the United States, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is equipping you with the latest facts and updates. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

New animated educational video: “Vaccines Explained: Trust the Facts” 

As you read and hear more about COVID-19 vaccines, you might be wondering what’s true. The fact is, COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and your best shot against COVID-19. Check out the Vaccines Explained video on Georgia DPH’s YouTube channel to learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work and why they are essential to helping Georgia overcome the pandemic. 

How vaccination combats variants of the virus 

Viruses constantly evolve through mutation, and new variants of the COVID-19 virus are already spreading throughout the world. Viruses cannot mutate if they don’t replicate, so vaccination is important to slow increased case rates of COVID-19 variants. While the CDC is still researching how effective vaccines are against variants of the virus, it’s important that residents prioritize vaccination. The more residents who receive vaccinations, the more protection our state builds up to slow all COVID-19 spread, making it more difficult for COVID-19 variants to grow and reproduce. 

Preparing for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment 

All adults over the age of 16 are now eligible for vaccination. Please schedule an appointment before going to a vaccination site. COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost to those eligible for vaccination. Additionally, no form of ID is required to register and receive a vaccination. 

Once you arrive at your vaccination location, follow guidelines to navigate the site. Please note that each site receives different allocations from the various manufacturers, and you cannot choose which vaccine you’ll be given. After vaccination, ensure you wait in the appropriate monitoring area as directed and keep your COVID-19 vaccination record card in a safe place. If desired, download the CDC’s V-Safe app to monitor post-vaccination side effects and receive an alert when your next dose is due if you received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. 

The latest information on Georgia’s vaccine rollout is also available on the DPH website and our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Visit the DPH YouTube channel for English and Spanish language videos detailing key facts about the approved COVID-19 vaccines. 

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit gta-vras.powerappsportals.us or call 888-457-0186 for local health department vaccination sites, or visit myvaccinegeorgia.com for GEMA mass vaccination sites. To search for vaccine appointments near your location, visit vaccinefinder.org.