News

Health Department begins vaccinating first responders

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 29, 2020

The Henderson County Department of Public Health received its first shipment of the Covid-19 vaccine last week and will work to vaccinate front-line healthcare workers and other top priority groups in the weeks ahead. 

On Dec. 22, Henderson County received 1,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. Throughout the past week, front-line health department staff, paramedics and other EMT first responders received their first dose in the two-part vaccination series.

First responders lined up to receive their vaccine Saturday at the Thomas H. Thompson Emergency Services Center. Among those vaccinated included Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin, Henderson County Emergency Services Director Jimmy Brissie, Etowah-Horse Shoe Fire Chief Mike Huggins and Mills River Fire Chief Rick Livingston.

“This is important for everybody,” said Sheriff Griffin, who also serves as an Edneyville firefighter and was able to receive the vaccine. “I believe in the science, when you research this, about this vaccine and we’ve got to do something to mitigate this spread we are seeing. So please encourage everybody you know to get vaccinated. We will be much better off down the road.”

“This is the one tool that we have that is going to get us out of this current pandemic,” Brissie added. “I’m glad to roll my sleeve up, along with all of our team here working on the front lines, battling this pandemic, to ensure that we can all come out on the other end of this and get back to spending time with our friends, our family and our neighbors.”

Henderson County is closely following the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services 5-phase prioritization plan, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care families in Phase 1a. health Department vaccinators will continue working through health department employees, first responders, healthcare providers not affiliated with a hospital or healthcare system. Assisted living facilities not covered by the federal agreement with CVS or Walgreens to receive vaccinations are also in the Health Department’s top priority group.   

It could take several weeks before individuals in Phase 1a are fully vaccinated. The Health Department will announce as each phase begins for community members to know when it’s their turn for a vaccination.  The Health Department is not compiling a waitlist from the general public interested in getting a vaccine. Once ready, the Health Department will have a registration process for those who wish to be vaccinated. Local Covid-19 vaccine information is available at www.hendersoncountync.gov/health/page/covid-19-vaccines. NCDHHS vaccine information is available at www.YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov.