Dr. Toomey: Frontline healthcare workers receiving ‘threats,’ ‘hostile emails’

ATLANTA — Many people would call healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic heroes for doing what they can to help save people from the virus.

According to Dr. Kathleen Toomey, the state’s leading health official, says that is not the case for everyone.

She said Monday that though these doctors and nurses have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, many people are not happy with them for encouraging vaccinations.

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“I’ve become aware of that many of our line workers who are doing these vaccinations are receiving threats or receiving hostile emails or harassing emails,” she said. “Maybe it comes to the territory of someone in my position, but it shouldn’t be happening to those nurses who are working in the field to try to keep this state safe.”

Dr. Toomey also said that a mobile event in one city, which she did not name, had to stop vaccinating people because of the harassment and bullying they were receiving.

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“This is absolutely wrong. These people are giving their lives to help others and to help us in the state. We in Georgia can do better. We should be thanking these individuals,” she continued.

As of Monday evening, the Georgia Department of Public Health says that 51% of Georgians have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Just 43% of Georgians are fully vaccinated.

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