Haywood County 2-12-21 Weekly COVID-19 vaccination update

Haywood County -- Haywood County Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Update FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 12, 2021

Where to find COVID-19 vaccine information:

To register for vaccination go to: https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/vaccine
For vaccine appointment or registration questions call: 828-356-2019
Please do not call the health department’s main number for COVID-19 vaccination questions, utilize the hotline instead.
For general COVID-19 information visit https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/684/COVID-19-Information
Vaccinations by the numbers:

Total number with at least one shot: Over 10,000

Total vaccinated (first shots) this week in drive-through events: 900+

Currently vaccinating: 

Haywood residents ages 65 and up

Currently registering: Haywood residents ages 65 and up

To register online visit: haywoodcountync.gov/vaccine

or by phone at 828-356-2019 (hours of operation for the phone line are Monday - Friday 8 a.m - 5 pm..) 

Vaccination groups completed:

Long term care facility residents and staff
Hospital and doctor’s office staff
Health Department, Emergency Services, and Vaccine Clinic staff

Vaccination groups nearing completion:

County and municipal critical staff
Haywood residents ages 75+

Up Next: 

Group 3 - Teachers and Frontline Workers — Governor Roy Cooper has decreed that North Carolina can move to Group 3 Frontline Essential Workers on February 24. While acknowledging that the vaccine supply is still very limited and the population of frontline essential workers is so large, the state has advised vaccinating those working in child care or in PreK – 12 schools first starting on February 24, then moving other frontline essential workers on March 10. 
What to know in Haywood County — “With a very limited supply of vaccine and a large senior population yet to be vaccinated, Haywood County will do our best to begin incorporating this new group of eligible citizens into the vaccination efforts while still vaccinating those 65 and older. Plans for how to do this in Haywood County are underway, but not finalized as of this press release,” said Bradish.

Vaccination capacity: Vaccine capacity over the next week will be impacted by the state’s decision to withhold vaccines from the counties in order to supply several regional mass vaccination clinics around the state. The decision will not affect supply for second doses, which are allocated separately. 

Accepting First Dose Appointment: 

Time and location details for first dose appointments will go out through an automated phone/text/email system.
Do not accept the appointment for the initial dose if you cannot commit to being available on the day your second dose should be given. Second doses are due 21 days or 28 days after the first dose, depending on the vaccine given, which we will not know until the day of the clinic. If you plan to be out of town or having a scheduled surgery or some other conflict you should wait and not start the vaccine until you can receive all doses here in Haywood County, on time.
If you decline an appointment, your name remains on the list to be called for the next available first dose clinic. You do not have to pre-register again.

Second dose information:

Two second-dose mass vaccination events were held this week where over 2,000 completed their COVID-19 vaccination regimen. For most people, full immunity potential is reached about two weeks after receiving the second dose. It is important to continue wearing masks and following other COVID protocols even after immunity is reached.
Second doses are allocated separately from the first doses and will not be impacted by the temporary shortfall of vaccine. Between the hospital and health department, several thousand second doses are already on hand, awaiting distribution. Additional second dose allocations appear to be arriving right on schedule and we anticipate no issues here.
The second appointment dates for Moderna are due 28 days after the initial dose. Appointments for Pfizer are due 21 days after the initial dose. (If you have been vaccinated already, your second appointment date can be found on the back of your vaccine card.)
Time and location details for second appointments will go out via the same phone system through which you received your first appointment. 

Organizations dispensing vaccine*:

Haywood County Health and Human Services 
Haywood Regional Medical Center (Hospital Staff Only)
Blue Ridge Community Health

*All organizations are offering vaccinations by appointment only.