Due to an overwhelming response from the community the Coastal Health District is pausing further vaccine scheduling. The Health Department had opened up phase to allowing anyone over 65 and all first responders to be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
But on Monday Jan. 11, the Coastal Health District had to stop taking further calls for the vaccine.
“Based on the number of calls taken to date, health departments in all eight counties have enough requests to schedule appointments through February and, in some cases, into March,” their press release said. “To ensure we have adequate vaccine to fulfill appointment requests, including second doses, the Coastal Health District has temporarily paused appointment scheduling for new requests. Individuals who are already on the list and awaiting call-back will still be given an appointment.”
“Our health department staff is working hard to get thousands of people scheduled for vaccination, but we need to hit the pause button – at least for a little while – so we can manage the current volume of requests,” said Dr. Lawton Davis, Health Director for the Coastal Health District. “It is also my sincere hope that in the very near future, more providers will have the vaccine so there are more places for folks to get vaccinated.”
On Monday Liberty Regional Medical Center was set to receive 200 Moderna vaccines are were taking appointments for those adults 65 and over and their caregivers, as well as to 1st Responders - law enforcement, fire personnel (including volunteer fire departments), Dispatchers and 911 Operators. Hoping to encourage others who are 65, and older State Representative Al Williams ceremoniously took his first COVID shot, last week.
“I followed the science since this thing came out,” he said. “And I’m doing whatever the science says. And my understanding, this vaccine is important if we want to contain this thing. I particularly wanted to do it because there has been a lot of apprehension in the population, particularly in the African American population.”
Williams said it was no different than getting a flu shot and will help bring an end to the current pandemic.
“I think we will get there,” he said. “This country is great. The vaccine is going to be great.”
LRMC Walk-In clinic Nurse Practitioner Laura Hayes said the vaccines will be administered by appointment only and are available at their Walk-in Clinic at the hospital in Hinesville from 10 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday, and at their Midway Primary Care Clinic from 1p.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. To set an appointment call one of the following offices:
Walk-In Clinic
912-369-9310
462 E.G. Miles Parkway, Hinesville
Midway Primary Care Clinic
912-396-7050
586 Islands Highway, Midway
For those 65 and older, a consent form is needed, along with a driver’s license and an insurance card. First Responders must have the consent form and their Identification Badge.
For more information visit the hospital’s Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/LibertyRegionalMedicalCenter
The Coastal Health District reported that folks can go to covid19.gachd.org and register to be notified when appointments open back up. Registering online does not guarantee a vaccination appointment; it simply gives the Health Department a way to notify residents when the appointment process opens again.
“We know people are frustrated because the process is moving more slowly than they would like, and if we could vaccinate everyone today, we’d do that. But your health departments are stretched thin and doing what they can to move forward,” said Davis. “We’re exploring ways to expand capacity, and we know more help will arrive when other local healthcare providers have vaccine to offer, too. In the meantime, please be patient and keep practicing the public health hygiene recommendations we know help slow the spread of COVID-19.”