COVID-19 Information

Vaccination FAQ

Can I or should I be vaccinated?

If I have the antibodies (had a mild case) should I take the shot?

• As long as you are not actively ill with COVID-19 and are symptom-free, you may be vaccinated.
  
  

Since the vaccines are live cultures, are they safe, and/or will the vaccine be administered to individuals with significant allergies or auto-immune issues?

• At this time, Haywood County is receiving both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, neither of which use live cultures. If you have allergies to ingredients in either one, you should not be vaccinated. Find out more about each vaccine here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/index.html

Should I get Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, or do I have a choice?

• Haywood County is receiving shipments of all three vaccines, but due to limited supply, you will not have a choice of which you prefer on the day of the appointment. Appointment calls will include which vaccine is being distributed each day. If you prefer not to take a particular manufacturer's vaccine, you may decline the appointment and wait for another call.

• Learn more about the different vaccines available: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html

Vaccine Rollout Phases

When will we get to the next phase?

• Haywood County is moving through the phases recommended by NC DHHS and the CDC at the pace with which we have vaccines available. We are currently vaccinating those over the age of 65 and school employees.
  
  

How will I be contacted that I am eligible for the vaccine? Through media? My doctor? 

• Regular weekly vaccine rollout press releases with information about where we are in the phases are sent out on Fridays through the media, the county website www.haywoodcountync.gov and on the county’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. After you pre-register, appointment notices are sent out by phone and email.
  
  

Can anyone over the age of 65, regardless of health condition, get vaccinated now?

• Yes
  
  

Which group am I in to receive the vaccine? 

• General information about vaccine groups can be found at: ncdhhs.gov/vaccines and at https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/684/Coronavirus-Covid-19-Information
  
  

My family doctor is in Asheville so do I have to receive the vaccine from his office or do I receive it from Haywood County Health Department?

• Haywood County residents can be vaccinated in Haywood County, when eligible, at one of our mass vaccination clinics. You do not need to wait for your doctor’s office.
  
  

I am the primary child care provider for my grandchild. Will that qualify me as a child care worker?

• No, but it does make you a good grandparent. :)
  
  

My spouse or significant other is not 65 or older. When will they be called for an appointment?

• They will be called when we begin vaccinating the group they fall into, in the same manner in which you were called.

Residency Questions

I am a part-time resident, I pay taxes in Haywood County and I want to pre-register. Can I get my vaccine in Haywood County?

• If you own property in Haywood County, are in residence during the time of the vaccination clinic, and are able to commit to having both shots in Haywood, then you may register.
  
  

As a seasonal resident, do I have to get both shots in Haywood County, or can I get shot 1 here, and shot 2 elsewhere?

• Seasonal residents who have their first shot in Haywood County need to commit to having both here. Second shots are scheduled 3-4 weeks after the first shot, depending on the vaccine.
  
  

I have a Tennessee zip code or a Franklin zip code, but I am a Haywood County resident.

• If you are from Waterville, Mt. Sterling, or on the border of Jackson County and Balsam, click the first zip code on the online questionnaire to complete the registration. 

Pre-Registration

How do I register?

• You can pre-register online at www.haywoodcountync.gov/vaccine or by phone at 828-356-2019
  
  

What if the same phone number and/or email is used on multiple pre-registrations?

• The system cannot differentiate between individuals if the same phone number is used for everyone. If possible, try to use a different number or email address for each person registered. If everyone in the household is over 65, and you receive a call but don’t know who it is for, both may come to the appointment together.
  
  

I signed up my spouse and myself for the vaccine at the same time. Will we be given appointments together or separately?

• You will be given appointments based on your age/priority group. If you are in the same group and get only one call, both may attend together. Do not bring anyone other than a spouse in this case.
  
  

I have not received a confirmation of my registration.  Why not and what should I do?

• When you registered the final screen after hitting the submit button should have contained a confirmation that your registration was successful. You do not need to do anything else, except exercise patience. Please allow at least two weeks before calling the hotline about your status. We are working through the names as fast as possible, but most will have to wait at least a week or so for an appointment.

After registering, now what?

How will I be notified? Email, phone call, or text?

• You will receive an email, then a text message if you registered a cell phone, then a phone call. You only need to respond to one of these notifications to confirm.

• The text will come from the number #88911, the email will come from NoReplyEverBridge with the subject line Haywood County Vaccine. The phone call will come from a Haywood County number.

• If after two attempts you do not confirm your time with one of these options, your name will be returned to the list to be called on the next available date.

Have I missed a phone call for receiving my vaccination?

• It is possible that you missed a call. If you input an email address, a notification was also sent there. Be sure to check your spam folder, in case it ended up there accidentally. It is recommended you check your email address to see if notice was sent. If you find that you indeed missed a notice, don’t worry, your name will be called again. You do not need to re-register or do anything else.

Am I still registered?

• No one is taken off the registry unless they request to be removed. You only need to register once. 
  
  

Why don't emails and text notices from the Health Department identify the person's name? 
In multiple-person households, we have no idea who the notice is for.

• Unfortunately, at this time we do not have the technology in place to implement this. Please try to use a different phone number and/or email address for each person when possible, so you will know who the appointment is for.
  
  

Is there a method to check where you stand on the registry list?

• Not at this time. Please allow at least two weeks before calling the hotline about your status. We are working through the names as fast as possible, but most will have to wait at least a week or so for an appointment. We are only calling names from the current eligible group so if you pre-registered, but are not in the group we are vaccinating it may be months before you are called. 
  
  

Why do some people get a phone call and some get a text telling them where and when to go for their vaccination?

• Appointment times are sent by email, then a text message if you registered a cell phone, then a phone call. You only need to respond to one of these notifications to confirm.

Initial Dose Appointment

Why have I not been called yet?

• We are working through the names as fast as possible, but most will have to wait several weeks for an appointment. Check the regular weekly vaccine rollout press releases with information about where we are in the phases, so you are aware when your time is approaching.
  
  

I received a call but didn’t hear/ understand my appointment, time, date, place.

• If you provided an email address when registering, check that address, appointment information was also sent there in addition to the phone call. If know the day, but not the time, try to arrive around noon on the appointed day.

• If you missed both day and time, call the COVID hotline 828-356-2019 for assistance.
  
  

I received a call, but failed to confirm, can I still come on the date/time in the message.

• If you made no selection but meant to confirm, go ahead and come to the appointment.

• If you selected no, but meant to say yes, simply wait for the next call, the system will automatically put you back in line for the next available appointment block.
  
  

I got an appointment call but I am going out of town soon, should I accept the initial appointment?

• You should not accept an initial appointment if you don’t plan to be in town during the time frame for your second dose (21-28 days after the first). Second doses are allotted to the county where you got the first, so you need to be present in the same county for both shots. Please try to commit to finishing the series when considering whether to accept the first appointment.

I am not able to access the online paperwork for my vaccine appointment, what should I do?

• Do not worry, paperwork will be provided to you upon arrival. 

My appointment is at the fairgrounds, what should I do when I arrive?

• Stay in your vehicle and follow the directions of attendants.

What type of ID do I need for my appointment?

• ID is not required but speeds up the check-in process. If you have one, bring it and have it out, so that the barcode on the back can be scanned. Scanning the barcode allows us to automate the check-in process, speeding up your appointment. Otherwise, we will have to look up your appointment manually.

I had an appointment call for yesterday but had to decline due to extenuating circumstances. Will I get recalled in some order or do I have to reregister?

• Do Not re-register. Even if you don’t confirm, your name remains on the list. You will be called again for the next available appointment.

Second Appointments

How do I schedule my follow-up vaccine appointment?

• You won't need to schedule your second dose. You will receive an appointment time by an automated message, the same way you received your initial dose appointment information. Please listen carefully to this message, in some cases, the appointment information may be different from your first dose, specifically time, and/or location.
  
  

My card does not say where to go for my second appointment, where do I go?

•  Unless otherwise notified, you will receive your second dose at the same location as your first. This may change, however, so listen closely to the second dose appointment message.
  
  

I will be out of town for the second dose, what do I do?

• You should consider this when agreeing to the appointment offered. If this does not work for you, then decline the appointment and you will go back on the list to be contacted later. Keep in mind that second doses are given 3-4 weeks after the first dose.
  
  

What happens if I miss my second dose completely?

• The studies indicate that 2 weeks after the first dose, a person gets around 50% of the immunity; two weeks after the second dose, this increases to 95%.

• Ideally, you should get the second dose at the specified time — 21 days for Pfizer; 28 days for Moderna. Although not recommended, the second dose can be delayed up to 6 weeks after the first dose in the event of delayed supply, but there are no studies that confirm this is as effective.
  
  

If I get a Moderna vaccine as my first shot, must my second shot also be from Moderna or can it be a different manufacturer?

• Your second shot should be from the same manufacturer as the first. On the off chance there is no supply of that vaccine at the proper time, another can be substituted, but be aware there is no study that confirms this is as effective. As of now, there has not been a problem having the same vaccine available for second doses.

• Those who received Pfizer or Moderna should not substitute the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for the second dose. The Johnson & Johnson works differently from Pfizer or Moderna and is designed to be a single-dose only.

After vaccination

If a person receives the vaccine in January 2021, won't they have to receive it again during the fall of 2021 to ensure that they are protected when cold weather and the holiday season arrives and people are back indoors?

• That remains unknown at this time.
  
  

How long is the immunity with the COVID-19 vaccination expected to last once both doses are given?

• Full immunity (about 95% protection) is reached two weeks after the second dose. It is too soon to know how long that 95% effectiveness will last. Although the risk is much reduced, the vaccine does not guarantee absolute protection, it may still be possible to become infected. Mask wearing, social distancing, and handwashing remain essential.

General Vaccine Questions

Can medical staff refuse vaccination?

• No one is required to be vaccinated. However, individual healthcare organizations can make their own requirements.
  
  

Can businesses require staff to vaccinate?

• No one is required to be vaccinated. However, individual businesses can make their own requirements.
  
  

If I remain unvaccinated can I be refused service or medical treatment?

• There is no national mandate to be vaccinated. However, individual healthcare organizations can make their own requirements.
  
  

Are Ingles or other pharmacies vaccinating?

• Walgreens is offering vaccine appointments now.
  
  

Can I be vaccinated anywhere in NC?

• Yes, however, most counties are prioritizing residents first, due to limited supply.

• Most local health departments and hospitals are offering vaccinations and should be your first point of contact.

• For statewide COVID-19 questions call 1-877-490-6642