While COVID-19 vaccinations have been flowing into Highlands via a community vaccination initiative created by Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, the Macon County Public Health Department and multiple civic organizations, the same can not be said for Macon County as a whole.
On Friday, Macon County Public Health announced that it will be rescheduling first-dose appointments due to a lack of vaccine supply coming from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Those who have already scheduled appointments for their first dose of vaccine have been moved to the front of Macon County Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccine wait list. Macon County Public Health will contact those on the waitlist as vaccine becomes available to reschedule their appointment.
There are approximately 3,000 individuals on the Macon County vaccine wait list currently. Macon County will be receiving 300 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the state each week for the next three weeks. This number is based on population size in Macon County.
“All vaccines that Macon County Public Health receives from the state will be used by Macon County Public Health to execute its vaccine efforts,” MCPH spokesperson Emily Ritter said in a written statement. “HCA Mission Hospitals and Pardee were able to redirect vaccines to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau COVID-19 vaccination initiative clinics, which has provided vaccines to those who are eligible and live in the Highlands-Cashiers area.”
Vaccinations are currently being distributed to residents in groups one and two of the state’s vaccination management plan. Anyone over the age of 65 is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Regardless of which vaccination group a person falls under, they can register for the COVID-19 vaccine wait list at gis2.maconnc.org/VAX/VAX.html. Registrants are contacted once their respective group becomes eligible for the vaccine.
Death toll reaches 18
Macon County reported one additional COVID-19 death last week.
According to information provided by MCPH, the person was over the age of 65 and had a preexisting health condition. The death occurred in Macon County.
“We continue to be in the critical outbreak stage but, we can make a difference by being diligent in wearing a mask, washing our hands, and staying six feet from others,” MCPH Director Kathy McGaha said. “Continue to practice social distancing and limit your trips outside your home to help to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
As of Tuesday, Macon County has had 2,719 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those, 528 are considered active positive and 18 people have died as a result of the coronavirus. There are 245 COVID-19 tests pending results.
Thus far, 2,515 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed in Macon County.