Here's when vaccines will be available -- tentatively

Jan. 5—How, when and where Haywood County residents can get COVID-19 vaccines has been a question that's almost overwhelmed public health officials.

It is one where answers will be readily available Wednesday, Jan. 6, but the one unanswered question will hinge on when vaccine doses arrive in the county.

Interim Public Health Director Garron Bradish told the Haywood County Board of Commissioners Monday the call center hotline, where callers can have their questions answered, that functioned when the virus first hit the county will be reactivated by Wednesday.

Staff from the library and other agencies that can spare a worker or two were reassigned temporarily and trained on Tuesday. Through the call center, individuals will be asked basic questions that will preregister them for their vaccine.

Once they are on the database, residents will be called to schedule an appointment when health officials determine where they fall on the vaccine schedule.

To preregister by phone, call 828-356-2019, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents may also register through the Haywood County Health and Human Services website, https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/vaccine, where they can fill out the online registration form.

Individuals who preregistered previously don't need to do so again. All vaccines are provided free of charge.

The registry system is not for people in long-term care facilities or who work in healthcare and have already been contacted about vaccination.

"There is a lot of anxious people out there, and we will try to get this vaccine to everyone as quickly as we can," Bradish said.

When that happens, though, will depend upon vaccine availability, and where individuals fall on the priority schedule.

Haywood priority schedule

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended priority guidelines — ones the county has already tweaked a bit, even since the schedule was first released.

For instance, Haywood will provide vaccinations for everyone 75 and older, regardless of whether they have accompanying chronic conditions. That process isn't likely to begin before Jan. 20.

"We feel it is more important to target the hardest hit individuals, and those 75 and older are the ones we see on death certificates," Bradish said.

Vaccinations for this group could begin as early as next week, he added, though vaccine availability could lead to delays.

This week, the health department is continuing to vaccinate physicians, nurses, medical and pharmacy staff, home health aides and funeral home staff. Haywood County received an initial shipment of 1,000 doses on the Moderna vaccine and had given out about 100 at the year's end.

Plans call to vaccinate another 250 this week with Friday being the largest day, when 112 dental office employees will get their shot. Along with adults age 75 or older, next will be emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and law enforcement personnel and paramedics.

Bradish said a drive-through vaccination clinic is being considered for the emergency personnel staff.

"We need to look at mass vaccinations, and this is a large group we can use as a practice run," Bradish said.

The number of vaccines given each day is limited by the 15-minute waiting period as health workers watch for any adverse reactions. Bradish said vaccinations can happen quickly, but wanted to avoid having too many in close quarters in the post-vaccine waiting area. So far, the only side effects Bradish said he's heard about are a few sore arms.

With drive-through vaccinations, he said, a system will need to be worked out where individuals can be watched for reactions in their vehicles that could be parked in a different area.

Who's next?

Once the emergency workers and people older than 75 are vaccinated, frontline essential workers age 50 and above, jail and homeless center staff/residents and critical government and emergency personnel will be vaccinated.

Next up will be the 65-75 age group, remaining frontline workers and adults 18-64 years old with one or more chronic conditions. The vaccination process isn't projected to reach this group until late February.

Phase 3 includes the eligible student population and Phase 4 is the remaining population.

Other providers

The initial vaccine shipments sent to Haywood went to the health department and Haywood Regional Medical Center, which received 975 doses. Both Walgreens and CVS pharmacies have been approved nationwide to distribute vaccines. So far, they have taken the lead in vaccinating staff and residents at long-term care facilities, which are near the top of the list. Because some residents at these facilities have already had COVID, it is believed they are protected for up to 90 days, so they could wait on the vaccine, Bradish said.

Several other providers in the county have applied to offer vaccines, and Bradish is hoping this will provide more places Haywood residents can go.

For now, the health department staff, along with retired employees, are handling the bulk of the vaccination effort.

The COVID-19 vaccine requires two shots that are spaced several weeks apart. Those who pre-register will be contacted to schedule the initial appointment and an appointment for a person's second vaccination will be scheduled when they receive their first shot.

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