ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that all Georgians over age of 16 will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The eligibility will open up to adults if they want the vaccine starting on Thursday.
LIVE coverage of the governor’s announcement NOW on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m.
Kemp stated just last week that with more and more vaccines coming to Georgia, he wanted to make all Georgians eligible in April.
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Kemp said out of the 50 states, Georgia has been shipped the second fewest amount of vaccines per 100,000 residents, according to the CDC website.
The state received 450,000 vaccines, including both first and second doses, this week and expects an increase in Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson next week.
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The news was met with praise from Georgia Democrats and Republicans at the state Capitol.
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot spoke with officials on both sides of the political aisle who said the expected announcement will be welcome news.
“If I had a choice, I would’ve done it a little differently. The teachers would’ve been among the first, but I’m glad that everybody’s going to have an opportunity to participate in getting it. It’s overdue,” said Democrat State Rep. Roger Bruce.
“The people over 65, we went through a certain parameters to guide the vaccines coming in. Now that we’re getting more and more, we need to offer it to everyone who wants it,” said Republican State Rep. Emory Dunahoo.
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