Murphy – By the end of today, Cherokee County Health Director David Badger hopes to have the first dose in the arm of every teacher who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
While the county is still in Group 2 and has appointments for those who work in health care or are ages 65 and older booked into April, the health department has been able to secure additional vaccines for school employees, who would fall under the state’s Group 3.
Badger said each county can request additional allocations for special events. The first special event was on Jan. 20, while the second is being held today.
“The health department has been very proactive,” Superintendent Jeana Conley said. “They’ve been great.”
Badger was proud he was able to vaccinate this important group of essential workers while maintaining the primary focus on vaccinating those in Groups 1 and 2.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Badger said. “I think it’s a win-win for our community.”
He added it will put the county ahead when Phase 3 opens for frontline essential workers.
The health department had one clinic at multiple schools for teachers who were ages 50 and older on Jan. 20 when it secured an allocation of 100 additional first doses. This week, the health department received another special allocation of 300 first doses.
School nurses were assisting with the vaccination process of school employees, as were Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital staff.
Conley said school nurses have even been able to help the health department vaccinate at weekend clinics.
“It’s been a great collaboration,” Conley said.
Jail outbreak increases
After the second round of testing conducted at Cherokee County Detention Center, 11 more inmates were found to be infected with COVID-19, Sheriff Derrick Palmer said. Additional testing later in the week found one more inmate, and two more detention officers, were positive.
In total, nine staff and 40 have tested positive so far. Palmer said some of the officers who tested positive early on were starting to filter back in, as quarantines were concluding.
All those who tested positive were isolated in one section of the jail, while those who have been tested were segregated in another section. Palmer said the jail population is at about 70, or about half its capacity.
“We’re able to spread people out and keep them isolated,” Palmer said.
As far as he knew, no one was suffering severe symptoms – some had a slight fever and chills. Badger said COVID testing would continue at the jail, with a target of testing every 3-5 days.
Testing continues
Badger thinks testing for the general public is going well. He reminded that anyone who thinks they were exposed to the virus should get tested.
“Continuing to identify positive people is still important,” he said.
Badger warned against getting optimistic too early as more people get vaccinated. According to N.C. Department of Health & Human Services, Cherokee County has administered first doses to 8.6 percent of the population and second doses to 1.73 percent of the population.
Receiving praise
Badger thinks his staff is doing the best it can with the “extremely limited supply of vaccines.”
“I do know I have an amazing staff,” Badger said, adding that he wouldn’t want to do something like this without them.
When John Wible finally got through to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated, the woman answering the phone at the Cherokee County Health Department told him, “Don’t hang up, don’t hang up,” as she prepared to gather his
information.
“I just think from day one they’ve done a super job,” Wible said.
He thought they were extremely well organized. His first vaccine visit was about a month ago, as he is 77 years old.
Wible saw possibly the woman he had talked with telling someone else not to hang up. His visit was just about 45 minutes long, including the 15-minute wait to make sure there were no serious reactions.
He hasn’t been the only one impressed with the health department. Many others who have been vaccinated have shared good experiences.
Another local resident, Sam Jokich, got his first shot on Feb. 3. He said the staff made him feel like he had known them his entire life.
“Their friendly demeanor puts you at ease, and their professionalism lets you know you’re in good hands,” he said.
While treating everyone as friends, Jokich said the staff moves quickly to get the job done. He added that he’s lived in most major cities, and has never seen a county health clinic that spotless.
On Thursday, Wible got his second dose of the vaccine. He continues to be impressed with the health department.
“They all had smiles and did a great job,” Wible said.