This week employees of area doctor’s offices, dental offices, pharmacies, and funeral homes were vaccinated at Health and Human Services. 

“It is important to vaccinate these front-line workers as early as possible since they may potentially be used in the future to administer the vaccine to the general public. The next phase will focus on the citizens in the age groups that are the most susceptible and who have suffered the severest illnesses, those over age 75,” said Interim Health Director Garron Bradish.

To date, over 1,000 people have been vaccinated in Haywood County, through either Haywood Regional Medical Center or Haywood Health and Human Services.

“We had a very successful first week of vaccinations at the Health Department and look forward to moving into even greater distribution of vaccine as more becomes available,” said Bradish.

Early next week those residents over the age of 75 that pre-registered will begin getting phone calls and text messages with scheduling information for their vaccine appointments, which will begin later in the week.

Haywood County Health and Human Services will be partnering with Haywood Regional Medical Center on a series of vaccine clinics that will greatly expand the county’s capacity for vaccine distribution. 

These clinics will serve those on the pre-registry list who have been contacted with an appointment time, and will NOT be open to the public or to walk-ins. Instructions on how to participate will be given when appointment times are scheduled.

As of now, all available doses have been allotted to the specific groups whose vaccine appointments have already occurred or are scheduled to happen next week. As more doses become available, vaccination providers will continue to work down the priority list in the order determined by the CDC.

The pre-registration process will remain the same for each group, and advance notice of when to begin registering will be given as we work through the available vaccine doses.

To find your spot in line visit: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines

At each step of the way,  Haywood County Health and Human Services will provide updates and plenty of advance notice 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