DeKalb, MARTA launch ‘Get Vaxxed’ public outreach campaign

DECATUR, GA —DeKalb County government is ramping up a new public outreach campaign to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in the county to 60 percent. DeKalb recently hit its initial goal of 50 percent and is pushing for a new goal, officials announced today (Sept. 30).

“We have surpassed our initial goal of 50 percent,” DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said. “Now our new goal is to get 60 percent of our eligible population vaccinated by Dec. 1 of this year.” 

 Officials  rolled out the  “Get Vaxxed DeKalb campaign with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid  . Transit  Authority(MARTA). A bus wrapped with special artwork promoting the “Get Vaxxed DeKalb” messaging, along with T-shirts and baseball caps, were unveiled today during a press conference at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. The messaging includes the hashtag “Victory over Virus.”

“We are grateful to MARTA for their continued partnership in protecting DeKalb County residents from the deadly COVID-19 virus,” said Thurmond. “We encourage everyone to ‘Get Vaxxed!’”

MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeff Parker said his agency is excited about being a key player in the new campaign.

“The vaccination efforts happening in Dekalb County are vital in protecting people from the virus and its variants and we are eager to support this campaign and help spread the word in any way we can,” Parker said.

Beginning in June, DeKalb County Government has held four COVID-19 vaccination events, with a fifth one scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 2. Before DeKalb began its vaccination events, approximately 44 percent of its eligible residents were fully vaccinated. DeKalb’s push to get residents vaccinated has increased that percentage to 51 percent.

Additional partners in the “Get Vaxxed DeKalb” campaign include the DeKalb County Board of Health, Medcura Health and Emory, which are providing the vaccinations.

“The only way we’re going to beat COVID-19 is if we come together and get vaccinated—not for the good of self, but for the common good,” DeKalb District Health Director Sandra J. Valenciano said.