FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 5, 2021
Where to find COVID-19 vaccine information:
Vaccinations by the numbers:
Total number vaccinated in Haywood County: Over 8,500
Total vaccinated this week in drive-through events: 500+, down from a high of 2,000 last week
Currently vaccinating:
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:
Vaccination capacity: Vaccine capacity over the next two weeks will be impacted by the state’s decision to withhold vaccines from the counties in order to supply several mega 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:
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.
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.
Mass Vaccination Clinics:
Haywood County Health and Human Services is partnering with Haywood Regional Medical Center and Haywood County EMS on a series of weekly vaccine clinics.
The clinics serve those on the pre-registry list who have been contacted with an appointment time and are NOT open to the public or to walk-ins.
Instructions on how to participate will be given when appointment times are scheduled.
About 500 people were vaccinated at mass clinic events this week in Haywood.
Huge thanks to all the volunteers, churches, and individuals who contributed to the success of these events. To be considered for a volunteer position, please visit: https://terms.ncem.org/TRS/ and follow the directions on the site.
“This week’s mass vaccination clinic and those for the next few weeks will be impacted by the amount of vaccine distributed by the state to Haywood County. We vaccinated far fewer people this week than we have the ability to, due to the much lower availability of vaccines. We will continue to distribute everything we have on hand each week, but citizens can expect the process to move slowly while the distribution to our county remains low,” said Interim Health Director Garron Bradish.
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and the prioritization goals visit: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines
At each step of the way, Haywood County Health and Human Services is committed to providing updates and guidance to make sure that everyone who wants to be vaccinated will have their chance.
Key Points about the COVID-19 vaccine:
The vaccine is tested, safe, and effective
You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine
There will be limited availability at first and more widely available over time.
The vaccine will be provided free of charge to everyone that wants it.
Two doses are needed for maximum immunity.
There is no vaccine mandate.
Continuing the 3Ws will be critical until the vaccine is widely taken
