Albany church to host vaccine clinic

ALBANY – An Albany church congregation is inviting the public to get vaccinations to protect against influenza and several other threats during a September clinic ahead of the 2025-2026 flu season.

St. Paul Baptist Church is partnering with Walgreens to offer the shots for those two seasonal diseases plus RSV, shingles, pneumonia, and a booster to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. COVID-19 testing also will be available. 

The clinic will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 27 at 2605 Sylvester Road. The event is hosted by Shemorrow Mendez.

COVID numbers have increased over the past two months, and the number of hospitalizations was the highest in August for any month this year. The number of hospitalizations was the highest since September 2024, according to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

The vaccination event is open to all, the Rev. Calvin Rollins said. Individuals who do not have insurance coverage for the shots will get them at no cost.

“I got a phone call from the Walgreens pharmacy manager,” Rollins said. “She was talking about how the flu shots are available and how pneumonia was on the rise. She was saying COVID is on the rise again.

“We were excited to be part of that (vaccinations). We want to reach out to our community to make our community a safer place.”

The church also will distribute food during the event, he said.

St. Paul Baptist has partnered with the Morehouse College of Medicine in the past for COVID-19 vaccination events.

“Our vaccination program has been pretty well-received,” the minister said. “That’s what we’re hoping for this go-around as well. We’re hoping for attendance beyond a hundred people or more”

In August, Phoebe admitted 26 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, up from 10 the previous month and two in June. Prior to that, the highest number of hospitalizations were seen in August 2024 at 56 and the following month, when 55 were admitted.

In August, 96 patients at the hospital emergency room tested positive for COVID, the largest number since August 2024, when 174 patients tested positive.

Phoebe is currently waiting for recommendations and clinical guidance for administering updated COVID-19 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health, Dr. Diana Grant, the chief medical officer for the Phoebe Putney Health System, said. Those recommendations are expected this week.

“We believe in the science behind vaccines, and we know the COVID vaccine has proven to be effective at protecting many people in our community from severe effects of the virus,” Grant said. “We hope COVID vaccines will be readily available in our community soon for those who want to be vaccinated.”

While the fall surge in COVID numbers has not been as severe as in previous years, there has been an increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations, Grant said.

“We want everyone to be aware that COVID transmission has been increasing, and we encourage you to take steps to protect yourself,” she said.

Flu season typically begins in the fall and peak numbers occur typically during December, January and February.