Over 600 receive second round of COVID-19 shots at Rec Department

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  • Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County residents line up as volunteers prepare to distribute more than 600 vaccine shots Tuesday.
    Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County residents line up as volunteers prepare to distribute more than 600 vaccine shots Tuesday.
  • Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Jon Barnwell, left, John Lovelady, Michael Crowe and Kim Beck with Rabun County EMA transport patients in golf carts to the vaccine clinic held at the Rabun County Parks and Recreation Department on Tuesday.
    Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Jon Barnwell, left, John Lovelady, Michael Crowe and Kim Beck with Rabun County EMA transport patients in golf carts to the vaccine clinic held at the Rabun County Parks and Recreation Department on Tuesday.
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 Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Dulene Jones, left, county nurse manager, and Carmen Rodgers with the Rabun County Health Department thank Rev. Don Barber from Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church for supplying food to volunteers.
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TIGER-- Around 650 people recieved the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic held at the Rabun County Parks and Recreation facility on Tuesday. 

"It's gone really well. Just like the first mass vaccination," said County Nurse Manager Dulene Jones about how the process was going. "There are a lot of volunteers and everybody is working together." 

People from around the community volunteered and said that it is a way to give back. 

"I've always worked in the community and I just feel like this is a good way to pay back to the community," said volunteer Karen Blair.

Blair used to be the nurse manager at the Rabun County Health Department. 

"She's been amazing," Jones said about how helpful Blair has been while volunteering. 

Blair said that she received the COVID-19 vaccine herself because she wanted to protect herself. 

"I'd much rather have the shot than the disease," Blair said. 

Rotarian Jane Janes said that she has been volunteering every day at the health department and sees it as a great opportunity to help the community and see people she has missed due to COVID precautions. 

"It's a community that works together," Janes said about Rabun County. 

Ann D'Agostino said that volunteering is also a good way to meet people. 

"It's a good way to help. It's a good way to meet people and it's just like doing my part." 

Her motivation behind getting the vaccine was to be able to see her family and give hugs. 

Terrell Wilson said he enjoys volunteering because it reminds him of the hospital work he's done for the last 45 years. He's also an employee at the health department. 

Some people said they thought getting the shot is important to protect family and loved ones. 

Marie Watts volunteered at the clinic and said she got the vaccine "to put an end" to the virus and protect family and loved ones. 

Others stated similar reasons for getting the vaccine and some have had friends and family members who have been affected by the virus. 

Jerry Joiner said his brother-in-law died from COVID-19 and that he and his wife Jane have numerous friends who have been diagnosed with it also. 

"We just did not want to get COVID so we are very excited to get [the vaccine]," Jane said. 

Suzi Blades said she has friends who have had the disease and that she took her shot to protect her grandchildren. 

Rocky and Vicki Forester said they got the vaccine because they have children in the medical profession. 

Vicki said that both of their daughters suffered from COVID-19. 

They received their second vaccine on Tuesday and said they were looking forward to it.

"We wanted to be part of the solution," Ginny Blades said about why she was excited about the vaccine. 

Don Caroway said that he felt that it was worthwhile to get the vaccine. 

"Better to be safe than sorry," Caroway said. 

Camilla and Don Tomberlin said they have heard of many many people who have had COVID-19 and they wanted to be as safe as they can. 

"I think it's so important that we get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible," Nurse Practitioner Anna Ledford said about why she volunteered at the clinic. She said that the only way to do that is to have manpower and that's why she decided to volunteer. 

Many different organizations in the community donated food and resources to help make the vaccine clinic a success. 

“We felt like they were risking so much and they were doing such important work," said Rev. Don Barber of Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church about why they decided to donate food. 

"This is a way we can show them they are appreciated and cared for. It's our pleasure," Barber said. 

Jones expressed appreciation to everyone who volunteered at the clinic and the health department. 

"It's above and beyond," Jones said about the overwhelming support. "We really do appreciate it and it means a lot."