District 2 Department of Public Health began giving COVID-19 vaccines Monday morning to first responders in the community.
Hall County Fire Shift Commander Mark Arnold was the first to get the jab.
"I was ready to get this over with weeks ago, and I'm ready to move on with life and do away with the COVID virus," Arnold said.
Also from Hall County Fire Services, Battalion Chief Todd Folger said at first he was apprehensive.
"I think it's a good thing. It didn't hurt, I couldn't feel it," he said.
Folger said he felt like the vaccine will make a positive impact to the community.
"[The pandemic] puts a lot of strain on the fire department. We have ambulance services as well, and our patient care, call volumes have increased probably double since it started," Folger said. "We're pretty much in lock down at the stations, keep the doors closed. No family members over, no folks that used to drop off food... it's just a big stressor."
Arnold agreed that COVID-19 had increased their number of patients the fire department handled, as well as adding to the amount of PPE worn and use of other supplies.
"I hope to see the positive test rate go down, the virus spread lessen," Arnold said about the future and widespread vaccinations. "Then we can actually get back to some type of normal for our lives and not have to worry about it."
The vaccine comes in two doses, with this clinic administering the first dose. The second dose will be distributed in three weeks.
"We're just taking out as many doses of the vaccine we need, we don't want to waste any of it," said Andrea Gaines, a RN Supervisor. "I'm drawing up doses for EMS, trying to get them vaccinated so they can take care of others."
Gaines got her shot on Friday. She said her arm was a little sore, but otherwise she hadn't experienced other ill affects.
"The vaccine didn't hurt at all, the next day I had a little bit of soreness which we expect of any vaccine," she said. "Haven't had any problems since then."
On Friday, the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville began distributing their allotted doses to medical center staff and healthcare workers.
