Local officials are hosting a preview next week of the new mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the University of North Georgia Gainesville Campus.
“We are inviting members of the media to the new site at the UNG Gainesville Campus Hugh Mills Physical Education Center so they can see how this facility will help us increase the number of vaccination opportunities made available to members of the Hall County community,” said Hall County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Ramsey.
A limited number of appointments have already been scheduled for the day of the media preview, Monday, April 5. The media is invited to attend between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to receive a general overview of the new facility and its operations, a brief tour of the venue and participate in a Q&A session. The new site will then open to the public on Tuesday, April 6.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with Hall County and District 2 Public Health to host this new vaccination site at our Gainesville Campus and ensure more members of our community are able to have access to the vaccine,” UNG President Bonita Jacobs said.
City of Gainesville officials have also partnered on the initiative, offering reduced fares for public transit on their WeGo service (reducing its $3 fare to $1) to and from the new vaccination site through Aug. 1.
“In addition to wearing masks, frequently washing our hands and social distancing, we’ve taken the extra step of discounting fares because we want to provide every opportunity for our family, friends and neighbors to access this life-saving vaccine and do our part to end the pandemic,” said Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center Director Phillippa Lewis Moss. “I am always reminded that as a public transit provider, we must remain agile and quickly respond to pressing community matters.”
District 2 Public Health reminds residents that although the vaccine is now available all residents 16 years of age and older, appointments are still necessary. (NOTE: Beginning April 28, walk-in appointments will be accepted.) Currently, Pfizer vaccine is the ONLY vaccine approved for persons 16 and 17 years of age. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 1-888-457-0186 or 1-888-426-5073 or by logging on to https://gta-vras.powerappsportals.us/.
“Moving to a larger facility like Hugh Mills Physical Education Center is a great opportunity to expand the number of vaccines we can provide in Hall County,” stated Zachary Taylor, M.D., District 2 Health Director. “We appreciate the partnership of the University of North Georgia – Gainesville and Hall County Government in securing this wonderful facility, and the City of Gainesville for making transportation services available for our residents. In addition, we thank the folks at Chicopee Woods Agriculture Center for allowing public health to use their facility for the past few months.”
UNG’s Hugh Mills Physical Education Center is located at 3820 Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood. For directions on how to access the location visit https://go.ung.edu/physical-ed-center.