FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 5, 2021
Key Updates: The Smoky Mountain Event Center has been a gracious host for the mass vaccination clinics over the last few weeks, but as event season ramps up there will be some dates that the fairgrounds will be unavailable for clinic use. People are urged to listen to appointment calls carefully for location changes, as well as times.
Where to find COVID-19 vaccine information:
Vaccinations by the numbers:
First shots given: 10,266*
*Does not include those vaccinated at long-term care facilities, the VA, or through local pharmacies or health care offices.
Estimated total population vaccinated with at least one dose: 14,000
First shots given this week at drive-through events: 600
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
County and municipal critical staff
Vaccination groups nearing completion:
What to know for Group 3 in Haywood County —
Vaccinations for Haywood County teachers are now underway. Over 200 Haywood County school employees were vaccinated this week at one of several clinics.
All of the licensed childcare centers in Haywood County have been invited to register staff members for their vaccinations. Scheduling for those vaccinations will begin after the two-week registration period expires.
Essential Workers — Until we clear the backlog of people over 65 and educators, we will not be able to move into frontline workers. It may be several weeks until that happens.
Vaccination capacity: The county expects to receive an allotment of 600 Moderna doses this week. In addition, Health and Human Services has partnered with Mission Hospital to receive 1,000 doses of the new single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine which was recently approved for emergency use.
Accepting First Dose Appointment:
Time and location details for first dose appointments go out through an automated phone/text/email system. Listen carefully for appointment location and time.
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 a future first dose clinic. You do not have to pre-register again.
Second dose information:
Over 1,200 people received second doses this week, completing 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 dependant on the number of first doses given. So far, 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 (partnering with HHSA for distribution)
Blue Ridge Community Health: 100 doses per week
Walgreens: 100 doses per location per week
Ingles
*All organizations are offering vaccinations by appointment only.
Mass Vaccination Clinics:
Haywood County Health and Human Services, Haywood County Emergency Services, and Haywood Regional Medical Center are partnering on the 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 600 people received their first shots at mass clinic events this week in Haywood.
Huge thanks to all the volunteers, churches, and individuals who contribute 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.
“After this week’s cleanup of our pre-registration list our total number of registered people went from 17,000 to 9,000. This was done by a call to everyone on the list to see if they have already received the vaccine from another provider other than Haywood County Public Health. We still have a few thousand in the 65 and older group who have not been vaccinated, so we will continue to target them, as well as vaccinate our school and child care staff. If you have not received the call to get vaccinated, be patient, next week we will reach out to vaccinate 1,600 of our community in the fight against Covid-19. Stay safe, ” 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
The vaccine will be provided free of charge to everyone that wants it.
For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, two doses are needed for maximum immunity.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose.
There is no vaccine mandate.
Continuing the 3Ws will be critical until the vaccine is widely taken
