CORE provides additional vaccination locations in southwest Georgia

The Albany Herald, Ga.
·3 min read

May 4—ALBANY — Southwest Public Health District 8-2 has partnered with CORE to provide additional vaccination opportunities for area residents.

CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and strengthening communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. CORE has been working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020 and has the operational and logistical know-how to reach marginalized and vulnerable communities. CORE has administered more than 5 million COVID-19 tests and 1 million COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, CORE GA is working to bring mobile vaccine units to increase COVID-19 vaccine access in South-Central Georgia.

Considering the tragedy unfolding in India at the moment and how vaccines are readily available here, it only makes sense for people to take advantage to protect themselves and others, Albany businessman Gilbert Udoto, owner of the SantTrap Lounge, said.

He added he hopes younger people will take advantage of the opportunity.

"We should have more locations," he said. "We are very fortunate in the United States; we have the vaccine. The supply is higher than the demand. Other countries don't have this opportunity."

Health officials have noted that U.S. residents from their teens to 50 are less likely to get vaccinated.

Udoto said he was an eager recipient and got his shots as early as possible.

"Some of us have lost friends, even doctors are dying," he said. "We're just encouraging everybody in southwest Georgia to come out. It's free. This is easy, just a few seconds and you're done.

"If we do that, we can have sports, we can go back to normal. We can do everything. Let's do it for Albany."

Walk-ups are welcome or register by visiting albanyvax.coreresponse.org. Only those 18 and older are eligible for these vaccines. CORE will administer the Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses about a month apart.

Vaccination opportunities in the Southwest Health District May 4-9:

— Sylvester — May 4, 2-7 p.m., Sylvester Public Library, 205 E. Pope Street;

— Albany — May 5, May 8, 2-6 p.m., SandTrap Lounge, 1412 Radium Springs Road; May 8, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Litman Cathedral, 1129 W. Whitney Ave.;

— Moultrie — May 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Antigua Place Apartments, 2310 5th Ave. SE;

— Warwick — May 7, 1-5 p.m., Warwick Police Department, 141 Dogwood St. SE;

Please note, county health departments will continue to offer COVID vaccines on their scheduled days each week. Health department appointments can be made at southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org, or by calling a local health department or the appointment hotline at (229) 352-6567.

After a sudden jump up last week past the 30 mark in Albany, Tuesday's COVID numbers in Phoebe Putney Health System facilities have shown a modest decline, with 27 patients being treated at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital facilities in Albany and six at Phoebe Medical Center in Americus.

— Alan Mauldin contributed to this report.