Burke Health Department - Important News Update
Updated at Noon, January 19, 2021
The vaccine registration process has changed to allow more convenient access and scheduled appointment times to get the COVD-19 vaccination. We have changed the phone system so that we will be able to handle the volume of calls.
If you are 65 years or older and wish to get the vaccine, please call the Community Vaccine Call Center to schedule an appointment at 828-358-4454. The call center will be open Monday through Wednesday 8am to 4:30pm to assist you with scheduling.
Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, Burke County Public Schools, Burke Emergency Management and Burke County Health Department are working in collaboration to get vaccines to our residents in the priority groups 1 and 2 based on the NC DHHS guidelines. This includes essential healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses, dentists, etc., and those in long term care/group homes, etc. This group also includes people who are 65 years old and older.
The community continues to receive very limited weekly vaccine allocations from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and we are vaccinating our residents as those vaccines are received.
We would like to say again that our commitment is to administer the COVID-19 vaccine as quickly, efficiently, and fairly to all residents who wish to be vaccinated.
Since the first vaccine distribution in late December, Burke County has received 5,675 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with the following distribution: 3,800 doses received by the hospital, 500 received by the health department and 1,375 received by Broughton and J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center for their employees.
We have many residents who fall into groups 1 and 2. Burke County has 8,389 residents over 75 and 13,020 residents who are between 65-74.
Our team is preparing a vaccination plan based on weekly state allocations and will implement it as soon as adequate dosage allocation is received. In the meantime, we will be making decisions on a weekly basis as we receive dosage allocation numbers. We will not be able to accept walk-ins. Please make sure that you have an appointment.
Again, thank you for your continued patience.
Provided by the Burke County Health Department
