I live in GA. K-12 teachers and staff only became eligible TODAY. Higher ed staff and faculty were originally in that phase, but they were removed and K-12 were bumped up. Our eligibility date for higher ed is still TBD. Many of my colleagues went to Alabama this weekend, where they are eligible, to get their first doses. Apparently it would be illegal to turn away non-residents, so they had no trouble at all. Furthermore, during pre-registration and intake, no one has batted an eyelash at the Georgia addresses. No one I know has been in any way dishonest that they don't live in AL. Is this ethically OK?
If AL clinics don't have an issue with it and people can make appointments in 24 hours, that says to me that they have plenty of supply. And if GA can be hoarding 30% of its supply and withholding it from a group who is also highly exposed (our campuses are wide open for business and have been since August), why shouldn't people go to a neighboring state, as long as they aren't burdening them? Somehow I still feel a little weird about it, but I think that's my fear of judgment talking.
As long as you are eligible in AL and their rules say that out of state folks are eligible, then I think it’s fine. I got my shot in a neighboring state because that state specifically said on their COVID FAQ page that out of state residents who met all other criteria were eligible. I met their eligibility criteria based on a high risk condition and my state is a hot mess on their roll out, so I when I got an appointment I took it. Yes it’s a privileged position, but 1, I qualified and 2, the dose I didn’t/wasn’t able to get in my state will go to someone else.
it sucks that it is SO HARD for so many to get it. If my state would ever open up mass vax sites, I plan to volunteer to help in some way to feel like I was giving something back since I already have my shot.