The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has received numerous inquiries about the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in Cherokee County. The health department located in Cherokee County is run by the Georgia Department of Public Health North Georgia Health District not by Cherokee County government.

After receiving numerous inquiries from concerned citizens, Cherokee County Commission Chairman Harry Johnston reached out to Dr. Zachary Taylor, Georgia Department of Public Health Director for North Georgia. Dr. Taylor advised that DPH is working this week to vaccinate medical workers and residents of long-term care facilities. Next week, they expect to begin vaccinating police officers and fire personnel, as well as citizens over the age of 65.

Taylor said the state-run health department in Woodstock will be the primary location in Cherokee County for vaccinations. Testing still will be available there but on a more limited basis.

The North Georgia Health District is expecting to launch a website later this week that will allow citizens age 65 and older to sign up for appointments. The site will be accessible at www.nghd.org.

The over-65 phase is expected to take at least the rest of this month with the expectation that the program will be expanded in early to mid-February to all adults over 31 years old with an emphasis on front line jobs like teachers, food service workers and adults in congregate environments like jails. As that phase completes, the program is expected to be expanded to young adults and children.

For any information regarding administering of the COVID-19 vaccine, appointments or locations, please visit www.nghd.org and/or follow their social media accounts.