Reluctance Among White, Rural Georgians ‘Biggest Challenge’ In State’s Vaccine Rollout

As Georgia continues to lag behind other states when it comes to administering COVID-19 vaccines, a top health official says the ongoing rollout faces a major obstacle: reluctance among white communities in rural parts of the state.

Dr. Kathleen Toomey, head of the Georgia Department of Public Health, spoke to the Georgia Municipal Association on Tuesday to mark the launch of the group’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign.

She told mayors from all over the state that many people — especially white people in rural Georgia — see efforts from elected officials to encourage vaccination as “government overreach.”