Vaccinations by the numbers:

Total number vaccinated in Haywood County: Over 6,000

Total vaccinated this week in drive-through events: 1,500

Currently vaccinating: 

• Haywood residents ages 75 and up  (our estimates are that about 75% of this age group, who pre-registered have now had their first dose)

• Law enforcement and essential county workers

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 nearing completion:

• Long term care facility residents and staff

• Hospital and doctor’s office staff

• Health Department, Emergency Services, and Vaccine Clinic staff

Vaccination capacity: The county anticipates that at the current level of vaccine availability and support capacity for clinics that about 1,000 people per week can be vaccinated. This number is an estimate that may fluctuate based on the amount of vaccine that arrives and staffing capacity. 

Organizations dispensing vaccine*:

• Haywood County Health and Human Services 

• Haywood Regional Medical Center (Hospital Staff Only)

• Blue Ridge 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 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.

“The mass vaccination clinics that have been held over the last few weeks enabled us to vaccinate thousands of Haywood seniors and dozens of law enforcement officers, critical county employees, and frontline health workers. The clinics are running very smoothly and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, which is a credit to the teamwork and commitment of everyone involved in helping organize and operate the events. This is the model we plan to continue using in the future to vaccinate as many people as possible in a safe and timely way,” 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

It wasn’t exactly the fall of the Berlin Wall, but on Thursday, Jan. 21, workers in Washington, D.C. began disassembling the miles of fence girdling the core of the federal district that kept Americans literally and figuratively separated from their government during the inauguration.  

Jackson County commissioners approved five pieces of legislation during their regular meeting Jan. 19 that will allow work to begin on the indoor pool project voters approved in a Nov. 4 referendum vote.

Like any organization that brings people together, Folkmoot USA had a difficult 2020. Without the ability for travel or gathering, there was no chance for the annual international festival or any of the other in-person programming planned throughout the year. During that time of cutbacks, former Executive Director Angie Schwab resigned to begin other work. 

As of Tuesday, Jan. 19, Haywood County Public Health received notice of 130 new cases of COVID-19 within the last four days.

A task force founded by Gov. Roy Cooper in the wake of violent protests after the police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd last summer makes dozens of recommendations to strengthen and support North Carolina’s law enforcement community, including several that would lead to greater transparency by law enforcement agencies. 

A $250 million deal between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Caesars Entertainment will go forward after Tribal Council voted Jan. 14 to deny a protest challenging the deal’s legality. 

No garbage cans. Temporary fencing, bolted together top and bottom. Armed soldiers in black ski masks every 50 feet.

Macon County Public Health has established an additional Call Center with the assistance of Drake Enterprises and Macon County Administration to offer several options for individuals to get registered for the COVID-19 vaccination. The options are as follows:

Mountain BizWorks is once again partnering with Dogwood Health Trust in a targeted effort to provide increased access to another round of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for nonprofits, small businesses, sole proprietors and independent contractors in the region, with a focus on rural and minority and women-led organizations.