South Georgia Medical Center will host a COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru event at the SGMC Main Campus on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9am-3pm. All eligible persons are encouraged to visit the site to receive their free COVID-19 vaccine.

SGMC has administered more than 40,000 vaccinations since they became available last December. However, Lowndes County is currently only at 31 percent of residents fully vaccinated. Although breakthrough cases can occur in fully vaccinated individuals, data continues to show that vaccinated persons are far less likely to require hospitalization, and 99 percent less likely to require mechanical ventilation.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future.

Of all positive COVID-19 tests performed by the health system over the last six weeks, 82 percent were among those 12 years and older who are eligible to receive the vaccine.

“We have seen an uptick in the daily  number of vaccination appointments through our Smith Northview location, but we seek to provide additional resources to offer convenient options for the public to receive their vaccine,” said Director of Infection Prevention Scarlett Rivera. “Our drive-thru events have proven extremely beneficial, allowing us the opportunity to vaccinate upwards of 800 people in one day!”

SGMC will be administering the FDA approved Pfizer vaccine and interested individuals can pre-register online at sgmc.org, call 229-433-1068, or simply visit the SGMC Main Campus located at 2417 N. Patterson Street in Valdosta on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9am-3pm.