Nearly 58 percent of DeKalb County employees fully vaccinated against COVID-19, rewarded with pay incentives

Employee incentive provides $300 for COVID-19 vaccinations $200 for flu vaccinations,

DECATUR, GA—As of Dec. 1, approximately 58 percent of DeKalb County Government employees have submitted documentation proving that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond told commissioners today Dec. 21. 

In November, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved Thurmond’s proposal to give DeKalb County Government employees $500 in incentives for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.

“These incentives are encouraging our employees to protect themselves, their families, friends and community against this deadly virus,” Thurmond said. “When our employees get vaxxed, this increases the probability that we will maintain a healthy workforce that will us to continue to provide essential services to DeKalb County.”

Approximately 34 percent of the county’s employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have received flu shots.

As of Dec. 20, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, 52 percent of Georgians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 55 percent of DeKalb County residents are fully vaccinated.

DeKalb County’s approximately 6,300 employees are eligible to receive a $300 incentive after they provide documentation by Jan. 31, 2022, that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, employees can receive a $200 incentive after they provide documentation that they have received the Fall 2021 flu vaccination.

The incentives are being paid for with approximately $1.9 million in American Rescue Plan funds and $1.3 million in the county’s annual operating budget.