Health director: 21 percent of Cobb citizens fully vaccinated

The director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health said Tuesday that 21 percent of Cobb’s citizens have been fully vaccinated against COVID1-19 as metrics tracking the spread of the virus continue to be encouraging.

In her weekly update, Dr. Janet Memark said that the 14-day average of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cobb County is 242 cases per 100,000, “the lowest we have seen in a while.”

That figure is the combined PCR and Antigen tests. A two-week average of 100 cases per 100,000 people is considered high community spread.

Cobb’s current 7-day moving average of COVID-19 cases is 116.9, according to date of onset data, nearly as low as figures from last fall.

Memark said that the current test positivity rate of 4.2 percent in Cobb County is “reassuring” and that “we have averted a surge” from recent spring breaks.

“Please don’t take this as a reason to abandon all defenses,” said Memark, who regularly updates the Cobb Board of Commissioners. “We are still in HIGH transmission, we have variants that have taken over, and we have not reached herd immunity. It is easy to think this is all over, but India’s humanitarian crisis is an example of what can happen if we stop prevention too soon.”

Cobb’s 21 percent vaccination rate is in line with a statewide figure of 23 percent, and Memark said that “we need to get these numbers up higher to return back to some normalcy.”

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s vaccine dashboard, a total of 351,634 vaccines have been administered in Cobb County, or 46,808 per 100,000. A total of 197,803 residents have received at least one dose (26 percent), and 156,592 are “fully vaccinated” (21 percent).

Cobb and Douglas Public Health operates a free mass vaccination site at Jim Miller Park in Marietta for the Pfizer vaccine, and is accepting walk-ups. You can get more information and set up an appointment by clicking here.

On Saturday, the Atlanta Braves will be holding a free mass vaccination event (up to 5,000) at Truist Park for first doses, with the second dose slated for May 26. That’s also the Pfizer vaccine, and you must book a reservation by clicking here.

Other requirements for the Truist Park vaccination events were sent out earlier Tuesday by Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt:

Open to all individuals 16 years of age and older; individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian
Masks are required
A photo I.D. is required
Parking will be in the Delta Deck, you will be directed into the stadium.
Second dose appointments will be scheduled during the first dose appointment – other dates/locations will be available if you are unable to make the Wednesday date at Truist Park