GEORGIA'S PLANS FOR FUNERAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS COVID-19 VACCINE ACCESS

GFDA has received information from the Georgia Board of Funeral Service and the Georgia Department of Public Health indicating funeral service professionals will be included in Phase 1-B for COVID-19 vaccines. You can view the DPH COVID-19 Vaccination Plan by clicking the link below.  

GFDA understands there are counties providing with COVID-19 vaccines for funeral directors. If you are interested in receiving the vaccine, we recommend contacting your local health department for their availability.  

GEORGIA BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE

The Board has been in communication with the Georgia Department of Public Health and have confirmed that funeral service staff will be in group 1B for COVID vaccine distribution, along with other non-healthcare essential workers. DPH will be releasing more information as they get closer to distributing to group 1B, and once vaccines are available to group 1B eligible individuals will be able to schedule an appointment with the vaccination site directly, a list of which is regularly updated and available through DPH’s website. Vaccine supply is very limited and virtually all sites are administering vaccines by appointment only. For questions about COVID-19 and the vaccine only (not for scheduling appointments for vaccination) you can contact (888) 357-0169. 

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

• DPH Launches COVID Vaccine Locator - Jan. 11, 2021 - HERE 
• More Georgians to Become Eligible to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine - Dec. 30, 2020 - HERE
• First Doses of COVID Vaccine Arrive in Georgia - Dec. 14, 2020 - HERE
• COVID-19 Vaccine General FAQ - HERE 
• COVID-19 Vaccine - HERE

PARTICIPATING VACCINE SITES

Click the titles below:

• Vaccine Sites, Search by County

• Ingles Pharmacy Sites

• Kroger Health Sites

• Publix Pharmacy Sites 
  

From DPH: If you’re looking for a COVID Vaccination Site in your location, be sure to check back often as the COVID participating vaccine site locations list will be updated frequently. Additional locations statewide will be added when providers are ready to safely administer vaccine, and as vaccine supply allows.

GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP

• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Press Conference - Jan. 12, 2021 - HERE

• Press Conference - Dec. 31-20 - HERE 

• Gov. Kemp, Dr. Toomey Announce Plans for Phase 1a Expansion - Dec. 30, 2020 - HERE

• First Shipments of COVID-19 Vaccine Arrive in Georgia - Dec. 14, 2020 - HERE

The Georgia Department of Public Health is currently administering COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 1a+ which includes:

• Healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMS personnel, environmental services, etc.)
• Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
• Adults aged 65 and older (effective 1-11-2021)
• Law enforcement, firefighters, first responders (effective 1-11-2021)

Vaccine supply is very limited. 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 vaccine available for quicker and more widespread distribution.

GFDA has advocated for funeral service throughout the pandemic. We have worked closely with National Funeral Directors Association at the national level and with Georgia agencies to ensure funeral service professionals have been considered in COVID-19 guidance. Before the COVID-19 vaccines Emergency Use Authorization was given, GFDA urged Governor Kemp and Department of Public Health Commissioner Toomey to follow the NASEM, ACIP, and CDC recommendations and guidance (with the specific information included) which would give funeral service professionals priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine and include them in Phase 1-A.

During the December 8, 2020 COVID-19 press conference, Governor Kemp and DPH Commissioner Toomey, stated they would follow the ACIP guidelines and CDC guidelines. Each state has the flexibility to tailor these recommendations based on their specific needs and available vaccines.

With the EUA for COVID-19 vaccines granted and distribution underway, GFDA's efforts have continued. Through numerous (weekly and daily) written communications and calls, GFDA staff has reminded the Governor, Commissioner, and their staff members of the guidance and recommendations given:

• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) framework which clearly places funeral service professionals in “Phase 1a” for vaccine allocation (the phase for high-risk healthcare/public health workers).
• The NASEM framework uses the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) designation of healthcare/public health workers (includes funeral professionals) as critical infrastructure workers.
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a standing committee within the CDC. It released its proposed groups for prioritized access to the COVID-19 vaccine. ACIP also put healthcare/public health workers in “Phase 1a,” along with residents of long-term care facilities. ACIP also used the NASEM framework, as well as the CISA designation of healthcare/public health workers (includes funeral professionals) as critical infrastructure workers.
• GFDA has emphasized funeral directors and embalmers are a crucial part of public health and given the current status of COVID-19 cases, you are in danger of infection every day. We have reminded them you meet with families that may not disclose or be aware of their exposure and infection as they meet with funeral home staff. We have reminded them you are may not be properly informed of confirmed COVID-19 decedents and are exposed as they transport and compassionately care for decedents.

While we have not received a direct reply to our communications or calls and while the COVID-19 vaccination plan has not been changed per our request, we can assure you GFDA is still working on your behalf.  We continue to urge Governor Kemp and Commissioner Toomey to reconsider the current designation and immediately include funeral service in Phase 1-A.

During our various virtual meetings with NFDA and our sister association across the nation, we are aware Georgia is not the only state that has not been given immediate access to the COVID-19 vaccine. We all continue to keep each other posted on efforts to ensure funeral service professionals nationwide gain the access they deserve and need to ensure the health of everyone is protected.

We will continue to closely monitor all information and guidance and update our members and our COVID-19 website section accordingly.