Highlands Cashiers Hospital CEO Tom Neal laid out plans for employers who are looking to get the COVID-19 vaccine for their employees during a virtual forum conducted by the Highlands-Cashiers COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative.
Since vaccinations became available, the initiative has administered nearly 3,000 doses to individuals in groups one and two of the NC Department of Health and Human Services vaccination plan.
Neal did his best to put employers minds at ease regarding the safety and effectiveness of the current vaccines available.
“The vaccine we have now if 95 percent effective and the idea that this vaccine was rushed, or not as thoroughly researched, is simply false,” Neal said. “Scientists have been working on vaccines for similar viruses for years. When COVID-19 came about they had a groundwork established they just had to find the right combinations to fight this particular coronavirus.”
Neal added that 70,000 volunteers went through clinical trials before the vaccine was made available to the public. Two doses per person are needed because the vaccine was developed to include a booster roughly three weeks after the initial injection.
“With the second shot, some people do experience side effects, and I’m sure everyone has heard those stories by now,” Neal said. “But in most cases the side effects last about 24 hours and then the person is fine. My own wife was ill for a day or so after her second dose, but she recovered and the thought of a brief illness certainly should not be a deterrent to getting vaccinated.”
In North Carolina, groups one and two are currently eligible for vaccinations but Neal noted that group three is scheduled to open this week for phase one and in early March for phase two.
“The state has split group three into two phases, phase one being teachers and public school personnel, and phase two being other essential employees,” Neal said. “Now I know every business owner considers their employees essential, but phase three only covers sectors designated essential by the federal government such as agricultural workers, grocery store employees, public transit workers, law enforcement officers, etc.”
Anyone with questions regarding where they or their employees fall in the vaccination plan should visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov.
Neal encouraged business owners to help get their employees registered for vaccination via the COVID-19 Vaccination Management System, which is also available at covid19.ncdhhs.gov.
“The CVMS system isn’t perfect, but it’s what we have to work with,” Neal said. “Once someone is registered with CVMS it is possible to get them on a waiting list for when the vaccine becomes available. Whether you are in group three, group four or group five you can and should register now.”
Neal also encouraged business owners to get themselves and their employees on as many vaccination clinic waiting lists as possible in order to get a vaccination as soon as its available.
“We have been doing clinics here in Highlands at the Rec Center, but there is also a clinic at Western Carolina University and local health departments are doing vaccinations too,” Neal said. “There is no harm in being on multiple lists. When someone calls, you go get vaccinated and then you can be taken off the other waiting lists.”
For information about the Highlands-Cashiers COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative’s clinics, business owners can call the helpline at 828-526-1310.