Seniors in DeKalb County will not have to leave their home to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
County leaders announced a program Tuesday morning that will provide mobile vaccinations for homebound seniors and people with disabilities. Paramedics will be able to travel to homes and administer vaccinations. The partnership is between the DeKalb Board of Health, DeKalb Fire Rescue and DeKalb Human Services.
DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond called the new initiative the “most critical next step” for vaccine distribution in the county during a 10 a.m. news conference.
“One thing that has been missing is that we, up to this point, have not really focused enough attention on those homebound senior citizens and people with disabilities, who are either unable to get to the (COVID-19 vaccination) sites or unable to stand in line to be able to receive the vaccine,” he said.
Two seniors received a vaccination dose during the event, and another 29 doses will be administered Tuesday, Fire Chief Darnell Fullum said during the event.
The county’s board of health currently operates vaccination sites at the Doraville MARTA station and a former Sam’s Club parking lot in Stonecrest. Every Georgian age 16 or older qualifies to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
DeKalb is among the earlier metro Atlanta counties to launch a mobile vaccination program for underserved populations. In Sandy Springs, Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) opened a mobile vaccination site last week and is expanding to other Fulton County cities.
More information on making a vaccine appointment in DeKalb is available at dekalbhealth.net/covid-19-vaccine/.
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