Haywood Health Board supports vaccines
To the Editor:
The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency Board unequivocally supports the immunization program of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency and encourages all eligible persons to get vaccinated. Vaccines prevent many illnesses and have saved the lives of millions of infants, children, adolescents, teens and adults.
The goal of the immunization program at the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency is to prevent disease, disability and death from vaccine-preventable diseases in children. These services help reduce the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases by assuring that individuals are age appropriately immunized. Haywood County DHHS is prepared to manage outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. They provide requested vaccines for children and adults as set forth by North Carolina Health and Human Services.
Guidelines from the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and North Carolina Immunization Program (NCIP) are followed to deliver age appropriate immunizations according to the most current recommended schedule and to assure the safe delivery of vaccines. While we recognize that some have concerns about vaccines, to date the preponderance of study confirms the overwhelming benefit to community-wide health from such an immunization approach. Vaccinations are provided Monday-Friday by appointment or walk-in to all patients who are eligible for vaccinations.
All CDC recommended vaccines are available to eligible adults and children through our local Health Department. These vaccines are given by appointment. An appointment can be scheduled by calling 828.452.6675.
The Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency Board supports vaccination as one of the most effective public health strategies to control and prevent disease.
Sincerely, the following undersigned members of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Board:
Paul Turner, HHSA Board Chair; Dr. Donald Buckner; Psychiatrist Member; Neil Budde; Public Member; Lowell K. Davis PhD; Consumer Member; Sarah M. Henderson, MSN, RN, Registered Nurse Member; Jon Parsons; Public Member; Dr. Elizabeth Ferguson, DDS; Dentist Member; Nita Kirkpatrick, MSN, RN; Public Member; Larry Reeves, Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Public Member; Dan Schultz, LCSW, Social Worker Member; Ann E. Geers, PhD, Public/Consumer Member; Dr. David McCracken, DVM, Veterinarian Member; Warren Sugg, Professional Engineer Member; Mollie Harrington-Weaver, MD Pediatrician, Physician Member; John Stoeckel, LCSW, Public Member/Advocate Member; Kim Ferguson, Vice-Chair/Pharmacist Member.
