Submitted photoDr. Charles Ruis, district health director of Southwest Public Health District 8-2, received his COVID-19 vaccination Monday afternoon.

ALBANY — The Southwest Public Health District encourages healthcare organizations and congregate living facilities to request the COVID-19 vaccine for their employees through the district’s website, says Dr. Charles Ruis, District Health Director.

Now that the vaccine is arriving in all Southwest Georgia Health Departments, healthcare workers and facilities are able to obtain it, says Ruis. Among the facilities qualified to register are hospitals, urgent care facilities, long-term care facilities, EMS, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, home healthcare agencies, hospice organizations, and certain specialty care facilities.

Healthcare organizations in the 14-county district can fill out the vaccine request form on the district’s website at www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org. A member of the public health staff will contact each facility as soon as they are able to schedule the vaccine service. Individuals who are self-employed as healthcare workers may call their local health department for information and scheduling.