Georgia officials push COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters ahead of possible winter surges

A health worker administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic in Chester, Pa., on Dec. 15, 2021.

Matt Rourke / Matt Rourke

This week’s coronavirus numbers show confirmed cases and COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to decline. But as winter and new potential surges approach, state health officials urge everyone who is eligible to get their booster shots. 

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, providers have so far administered 182,752 doses of the bivalent COVID-19 boosters that contain the original vaccine formula along with a new version designed to target the highly contagious omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the updated boosters for people ages 12 and older.