System awaiting more doses from the state

Tanner Health System continues to get shots in arms of its healthcare workers and area seniors to protect them against COVID-19.

Since late December when the organization received its first vials of COVID-19 vaccine, Tanner has administered 7,790 doses at vaccine clinics in Carrollton, Villa Rica and Bremen.

The health system continues to follow Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines to make vaccination available as it receives doses of the vaccine. Currently, Georgia is still in Phase 1A of vaccine distribution. Tanner is making vaccines available to healthcare workers and those age 65 and older.

The Georgia Department of Public Health and the Governor’s Office decide when vaccine can be made more widely available.

However, the health system is awaiting more vaccine to be allocated from the state before it can continue to make public vaccinations available.

Tanner is receiving both the vaccines that have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), from biotech firms Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. Both vaccines require two doses to achieve 95% effectiveness.

The health system received its last dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — about 1,170 doses — on Jan. 19. Its last shipment of Moderna vaccine, with 100 doses, arrived Feb. 1.

As shipments of vaccine arrive, Tanner schedules vaccination clinics and sends out invitations for individuals who meet the age requirements to schedule their vaccinations.

As of Feb. 4, Tanner had administered 1,768 first-round doses and 1,516 second-round doses to its healthcare staff. The health system had administered 3,843 first-round doses and 663 second-round doses to area seniors age 65 and older, in accordance to state guidelines.

As patients receive their first dose of vaccine, they are provided with an appointment for their second dose.

The health system has also established an online form for patients and caregivers to provide their information to be signed up for vital COVID-19 information, including upcoming vaccination clinics. The site is at tanner.org/shotsignup.  

More information about Tanner’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts can be found at tanner.org/vaccine.