Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has announced a plan to spend millions of dollars to incentivize government employees who get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Kemp said Georgia would give State Health Plan members and their loved ones gift cards valued at $ 150 or $ 450 in health credits once they are fully vaccinated. The plan could cost the state $ 48 million to $ 146 million, depending on how much each worker receives.
How the incentive plan will be financed is unclear. Kemp’s office did not respond to multiple requests for details about the incentive plan on Tuesday.
“Vaccination remains our most effective tool against COVID-19, and I continue to urge all Georgians who have not done so to speak to a doctor about vaccination,” Kemp said Monday during a press conference.
Kemp said 325,000 members of the state health plan are eligible for the incentives, which would include those previously vaccinated against the virus. Members can use the credit for co-payments and co-insurance. Government workers who are part of the government health plan have until November 30 to qualify for the funds.
Kemp made sure the workers had time to get the vaccinations. He ordered all state offices to be closed on Friday to encourage state employees to vaccinate.
Kemp’s incentive plan comes when Georgia Department of Public Health commissioner Kathleen Toomey said the state had the highest number of weekly outbreaks (170 outbreaks) of all time during the pandemic. Toomey said all 159 counties in the state have high levels of transmission.
Kemp also said he will transfer $ 4.5 million to the Georgia Coordinating Center (GCC), bringing the total allocation to $ 6 million this year to support the state’s COVID-19 efforts. The center coordinates the use of emergency rooms in emergency rooms in the greater Atlanta area. Kemp said the additional funding would help the center hire more staff, improve technology and infrastructure, and provide faster service.
“The GCC has been very effective with air traffic control, if you will, by making sure we all use our hospitals and [Emergency Management Services] Use resources effectively in our fight against COVID 19, ”said Kemp. “You have done a remarkable job and certainly saved lives.”
The story goes on
As of Tuesday, 86.8% of Georgia inpatient hospital beds are occupied and 94.5% of Georgia ICU beds are occupied.
Kemp said Aug. 16 that the state will spend $ 125 million to expand hospital staff and increase hospital capacity, bringing the total spending on additional hospital staff to $ 625 million.
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Keywords: News, Georgia, Coronavirus, State
Original author: Nyamekye Daniel, The central square
Original location: Georgia Spends Millions On COVID Vaccine Incentives For Government Employees
