A year after the COVID-19 pandemic began in Wuhan, China, Georgia is one of many states that has been impacted by the disease. Beginning in the winter of 2020, the distribution of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine has occurred throughout the country. As of Jan. 27, there has been a total of 23 million doses of the vaccine that has been given in the United States. Georgia has been distributing the vaccine as well. It is currently in the Phase 1a+ stage of the vaccination rollout.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMS personnel, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, adults aged above the age of 65 and their caregivers, law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders are a part of the group who will receive the vaccine first during the rollout.

“Vaccine supply is very limited,” states the Georgia Department of Public Health in a statement found on their website. “Public health departments are scheduling vaccines by appointment only, as are most other providers. Depending on vaccine supply allocations from the federal government, it may be weeks before additional providers will have vaccines available for quicker and more widespread distribution.”

By having a staged process of vaccination, this allows for those who need the vaccine the most to get it from the limited supply currently available.

There has been some doubt on the effectiveness of the vaccine.

“Testing was thorough and successful. More than 70,000 people participated in clinical trials for the two vaccines to see if they are safe and effective,” says the GDPH under the vaccination portion of their website. “To date, the vaccines are nearly 95% effective in preventing COVID-19.” With the vaccine being highly effective, cases of COVID-19 will likely drop as more and more people get vaccinated.

As the new year progresses, the COVID-19 vaccine promises a return to normalcy.