Georgia teachers crossing state lines in search of COVID-19 vaccine

ATLANTA — Georgia teachers were asked on Thursday to not cross state lines to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Georgia’s Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey made the request of educators.

“I would hope that our teachers would wait. We value what the teachers are doing and hope to prioritize them soon,” Toomey said.

Some Georgia educators feel as if the state has ignored them. Scott Robinson, science teacher at Rockdale High School, drove 4½ hours to Mobile, Alabama, to get vaccinated. Robinson said officials there didn’t seem to care that he came from Georgia for the vaccine.

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“I had to put in my address, that was not a secret. I had to put in my employer, so that was not a secret,” Robinson said.

Georgia is one of the few states that has not started vaccinating teachers. Thirty-seven states across the U.S. have already started the process for educators.

“It was very smooth. It was about 15 minutes from my car to getting vaccinated and 15 minutes from then before they let me leave,” Robinson said.

Robinson said this all happened on a weekend visit to Mobile.

“It was a Saturday-only clinic. It was a drive-thru. They had a Mardi Gras theme, I got beads,” Robinson said.

RAW VIDEO: Gov. Kemp, Dr. Toomey update on COVID-19 vaccination rollout

Cox Media Group