State Representatives David Wilkerson (D-Powder Springs), Marvin Lim (D-Norcross), Karen Lupton (D-Chamblee), and Lisa Campbell (D-Kennesaw) have announced that all vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, are now available without a prescription in Georgia.
The announcement follows a recent roundtable discussion held at the Georgia State Capitol, where they gathered input from the public regarding barriers to vaccine access, in light of recent federal actions.
The event brought together community members, healthcare professionals, and public health advocates to highlight the need for timely and equitable access to vaccines across Georgia.
Following the roundtable discussion, the legislators sent a letter to Governor Brian Kemp (R) urging immediate state-level action to ensure vaccine availability and to prevent access delays related to shifting federal guidelines.
The Georgia Democrats have highlighted that although subsequent actions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have eased short-term access concerns, like the prescription requirement for the COVID-19 vaccine, there is a need for long-term solutions.
To that end, the lawmakers plan on introducing legislation during the 2026 legislative session to codify protections and ensure that no Georgian is denied access to life-saving vaccines due to bureaucratic delays, policy gaps, or lack of funding.
The lawmakers commented on the importance of this issue, citing the need to remove barriers to access and improve government transparency. They also mentioned the need to cut back on bureaucratic red tape and improve government efficiency.
“Every Georgian deserves access to life-saving vaccines without unnecessary barriers,” the lawmakers expressed in a statement. “Our constituents deserve transparency when seeking access to healthcare, particularly following recent decisions by the federal government. This is about keeping our families healthy, our communities strong, and ensuring that public health decisions are driven by science and accessibility, not bureaucratic red tape.”
