Months-Long Wait For Coronavirus Vaccine Ahead For GA: Kemp

GEORGIA — Georgians received much anticipated news Tuesday when Gov. Brian Kemp outlined the timeline for the coronavirus vaccine to arrive in the Peach State. However, for most of the state's population, the chance to get vaccinated against the coronavirus may not become available for months.

The earliest shipment of the vaccine could make its way to Georgia within seven to 10 days, Kemp said Tuesday. That first shipment will go to the most vulnerable population, including the elderly and health-care workers, he said. After that, the vaccination will be given to essential workers and people 65 and older.

As for the rest of the public, Kemp said it will likely take months for enough vaccinations to arrive in Georgia for every resident.

Related: GA Patch Survey: Will You Take The Coronavirus Vaccine?

"The general public will not be able to be vaccinated for months," Kemp said on Tuesday.

To lower the risk while Georgians wait for the vaccine, he stressed the importance of washing hands, social distancing and mask wearing, albeit not mandating face coverings.

Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said the state will receive several batches of the vaccine, with the first expected to have several hundred thousand dosages. More shipments will arrive, and people will need multiple doses, which may cause side effects.

Toomey said she has been asked if she will get the vaccine once available, to which she replied, "I can't wait."

"Until we can vaccinate as many Georgians as possible, we will not have the level of immunity within the state as a whole to prevent continued spread," she said.

GEORGIA CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS FOR DEC. 8, 2020

The Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta reported a total of 452,369 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus at 3 p.m. Tuesday. According to the health department's website, that includes 3,686 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours.

Georgia has reported 9,027 deaths so far from COVID-19, with 20 more deaths confirmed in the last 24 hours.

All Georgia statistics are available on the state's COVID-19 website.

Globally, more than 67.9 million people have tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 1.55 million people have died from it, Johns Hopkins University reported Tuesday.

In the United States, more than 15 million people have been infected and more than 285,000 people have died from COVID-19 as of Tuesday. The U.S. has only about 4 percent of the world's population but more confirmed cases and deaths than any other country.

RELATED:

• GA Legislators Urged To Quarantine After Contact With Giuliani