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- Andrew Cauthen, Communications Manager, [email protected], 470-553-4408 (c)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2022
DeKalb County Government Employee Vaccination Rate Exceeds County, State and National Rates
Nearly 67 percent of DeKalb employees fully vaccinated against COVID-19
DECATUR, Ga.—The COVID-19 vaccination rate for DeKalb County Government employees has exceeded county, state and national rates.
Nearly 67 percent of DeKalb County Government employees have submitted documentation that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced today.
“Our information and monetary incentive initiative was successful in encouraging our employees to protect themselves, their families, friends and community against the COVID-19 virus,” CEO Thurmond said. “Our goal was to encourage our employees to ‘Get vaxxed!’ so that we could maintain a healthy workforce and continue to provide essential services to DeKalb County.”
In November 2021, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved CEO Thurmond’s proposal to give DeKalb County Government employees $500 in incentives for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
As of March 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 65 percent of U.S. citizens are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to Georgia Department of Public Health, 56 percent of Georgians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 58 percent of DeKalb County residents are fully vaccinated.
DeKalb County’s approximately 6,300 employees were eligible to receive a $300 incentive after they provide documentation by Feb. 25, 2022, that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, employees could receive a $200 incentive after providing documentation that they had received the Fall 2021 flu vaccination.
DeKalb County paid out approximately $1.8 million in employee vaccination incentives using American Rescue Plan funds and the county’s annual operating budget.
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