COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall Planned For Georgia's 13th District

ATLANTA — As COVID-19 vaccinations have begun being distributed across Georgia, U.S. Rep. David Scott will sponsor a town hall meeting Tuesday evening to offer more information.

Residents of Scott’s 13th Congressional District — which includes parts of Fulton, Clayton, Henry, Fayette, Douglas and Cobb counties — are invited to join the call and streaming video scheduled for 5:30 p.m., by registering on his website before the event to receive an auto-dialed phone call.

The hourlong streaming call will feature Dr. Colleen Kelley of Emory University, one of the lead investigators for the Moderna vaccine trial, who will provide detailed information and answer questions about the safety and availability of the vaccine.

Mass vaccination began in Georgia on Monday in areas such as Fulton County, and a Vaccine Locator is now available to help pinpoint where to go to get access. Scott wants the people of his congressional district to have “accurate and direct information” in advance of taking the vaccine, said Scott communications director Chandra Harris.

“Georgians are being ravaged by record numbers of cases that are being diagnosed every day,” Harris said. “Congressman Scott believes strongly that if we are going to resume our regular activities — going back to school, to work — that the vaccine’s going to play a critical role in that.”

In addition to comments and information from Kelley, the call will also feature WellStar Health Systems Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Hines, who will speak on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in Georgia and throughout the U.S.

Other featured guest speakers include Dr. Janet Memark of the Cobb & Douglas Public Health agency; Dr. Lynn Paxton, director for the Fulton County Board of Health; and Dr. Sudha Reddy, an emergency services physician with Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services.