South Fulton Today

Getting kids quickly vaccinated against COVID is no easy task, a Gwinnett County state House representative said on social media after Fulton County Schools announced it will lift its mask mandate.

Georgia state House Rep. Rebecca Mitchell (D-Snellville), in her Oct. 22 Twitter post, referred to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's coverage of Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney's announcement about the mask mandate lift.

"Going to guess he hasn't tried to get a pediatrician appointment in a few years?" Mitchell said in her post. "I did last week. They'll see my kids next week. That was the quickest turn around for an appointment I've had."

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney | Facebook/FultonCountySchools

Mitchell, an epidemiologist and veterinarian who grew up on a sheep farm in upstate New York, has represented Georgia State House District 106 since she assumed office in January after being elected to the seat during November's General Elections, when she defeated incumbent Republican Brett Harrell.

House District 106 includes the intersections of I-78 and I-124, metro Atlanta, most of Snellville and parts of Loganville, Grayson and Lawrenceville.

Fulton County Schools posted its own mask update in a Facebook post Tuesday. The district cited data from the county's health department and said that schools and administrative facilities in Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs would be mask optional beginning Wednesday.

"Mask wearing will remain the expectation on all FCS transportation," the Facebook post said. "We ask our students and staff to continue to employ practices to contain the level of infection in our communities, like physical distancing and frequent hand washing, which help keep our students and schools safe and focused on learning."

On Oct. 21, Looney issued a COVID update report to the county's school board. The report said the school district's mask requirement, which was successfully defended in court, can become optional 30 days after children ages 5 to 11 become eligible to be vaccinated.

Mitchell's Facebook post also repeated some of the details about Looney's announcement.

"He said face coverings will become optional 30 days after vaccine eligibility expands to include children ages 5 to 11," Mitchell said. "Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be authorized soon for that younger age group."

Getting the kids vaccinated quickly will be difficult for parents, Mitchell said.

"Most parents likely will choose to discuss with their pediatrician and will prefer to have their small kids get vaccinated there," Mitchell said in a response to her own Twitter post, which included ellipses. "30 days is too tight a window (also … two weeks after second dose is 35 days … but I realize science isn't persuasive)."