TIFTON – Southwell is opening a vaccine clinic as Tift County topped 3,000 reported COVID-19 cases and two more virus-related deaths in the past week.

Tift County reported more than 100 new COVID-19 cases in the first full week of 2021, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Tift County has reported 73 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic with the state reporting 11 probable deaths, according to the GDPH early this week. 

Tift County has reported more than 3,050 cases since the pandemic began earlier this year, according to the GDPH, along with about 900-plus antigen cases – an increase of more than 150 antigen cases since last week. Antigen cases reflect the results from rapid virus tests. 

The county has reported more than 340 Tift residents have been hospitalized because of the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to the GDPH.

Southwell will begin distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to certain populations within the community Jan. 13 through the COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru clinic at the Southwell Medical Clinic.

The vaccinations will be open to persons older than the age of 65, hospital officials said in a statement, as well as first responders, such as police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel; and health care workers who are not employed by Southwell. Southwell employees will continue to receive vaccines through employee health.

Patients who receive vaccines through the drive-through clinic will receive the first dose of the two-part Moderna vaccine. 

“We are excited about the opportunity to begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations to public safety workers and vulnerable members of our community,” said Dr. Cameron Nixon, chief transformation officer for Southwell and an internal medicine physician with Southwell Medical Clinic, in a statement. “We know there is an interest in this in our community, and we are ready to meet this need.”

Vaccinations are by appointment only. Those who meet the eligibility criteria for the vaccination can register at www.mysouthwell.com/vaccine/ anytime or call the drive-through clinic’s request line, (229) 353-2200, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

After receiving the vaccine, patients will be observed for 15-20 minutes by medical personnel to ensure they aren’t experiencing any side effects, hospital officials said. 

“We encourage everyone that is able to get this vaccine through the clinic to do so,” Nixon said. “Through vaccinating our employees, we have had a great experience. We know there is a lot of mistrust or skepticism out there about this but this is completely safe. We also ask our community members to continue wearing their masks, social distancing and practicing proper hand hygiene.”