Macon health officials have established a schedule for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing, though as of Tuesday, Jan. 5, vaccinations remained limited to health care workers and long-term care residents and staff.
The state gave local public health officials the go-ahead to move into Phase 1B, Group 1, which includes anyone 75 years or older regardless of medical condition or living situation, beginning Jan. 4.
“We are not scheduling any appointments for people who are not eligible under the current phase (1A),” said Macon Public Health spokeswoman Emily Ritter on Jan. 5. “As soon as we enter into Phase 1B group 1 we will alert the public, and they can begin scheduling their vaccine appointment.”
The health department recently revised its schedule for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Monday and Tuesday are devoted to testing, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Tuesday is dedicated to the prenatal clinic and include no COVID testing or vaccinations. COVID vaccinations are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
“The schedule posted will be our schedule moving forward regardless of phase,” Ritter said. “If it needs re-adjustment in the future then it will be amended. At this time, this is the best schedule to accommodate our obligation to continue to provide COVID-19 testing, vaccination and other essential health department functions.”
On Dec. 30, Macon County Public Health reported that three Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 had died. The persons were over the age of 65. These deaths bring Macon County to 12 deaths related to COVID-19.
Also on Dec. 30, Macon County Public Health identified a COVID-19 outbreak at Eckerd Living Center. One staff member and five residents tested positive for COVID-19.
“Eckerd Living Center will be closed to visitors to slow the risk of spread within the facility and to the community,” the health department said in a statement. “All residents and staff of the facility have been tested and are awaiting results. All residents and staff will be tested every week until there are two consecutive weeks of all negative results. When two consecutive weeks of negative results for all come back, then the facility can begin to allow minimal visitation again.”
As of 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, the health department reported 1,775 total cases since the onset of the campaign, up 311 from 1,464 reported on Dec. 29.
Requirements for handling the Moderna vaccine limits the department’s capacity for providing vaccinations, Ritter said.
“We have to wait for the vaccine to thaw, which takes two hours,” she said. “From that point we only have about six hours for the vaccine to stay effective, which is why we have the 10 to 2 timeline. It’s pulled from the freezer at 8 a.m., and then we have until approximately 3 p.m. to finish giving the vaccine. We schedule our last appointments at 2 to give a little bit of flexibility.”
The health department began vaccinating its staff members, along with EMS workers who fall under Phase 1A the week of Dec. 28.
“We gave 50 vaccinations to those who wanted it,” Ritter said.
“This vaccination effort will take time, and our staff is dedicated to vaccinating as many people as they can, safely,” Ritter said. “Our logistics team is working incredibly hard to make sure that we have all the supplies needed to get vaccines into people’s arms”
COVID testing is available to anyone. Those interested need to call the health department at 828-349-2081 to schedule an appointment.
“This is so we have their paperwork done in advance so we can get them in and out as quickly as possible,” Ritter said. “We do not turn away anyone who wants a test.”
As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 there were 164 lab-confirmed COVID patients hospitalized across the Mission Health System, including five at Angel Medical Center. On Dec. 3, 2020, there were 64 COVID patients hospitalized across the system.
The next phase of vaccinations, phase 1B, will open in groups with the following schedule.
Group 1: Anyone 75 years or older regardless of medical condition or living situation. People do not have to have a chronic health condition.
Group 2: Health care and frontline essential workers who are 50 years of age or older.
Group 3: Frontline workers of any age and health care workers of any age, regardless of whether they work directly with COVID-19 patients. This phase is anticipated to begin in early January.
CVS Health has formally launched its COVID-19 vaccination program for long-term care facility residents and staff. Vaccinations in North Carolina were scheduled to begin on Dec. 28, according to a CVS spokeswoman.