Catawba Valley Medical Center
828.326.3000
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Patients & Visitors

Vaccination Information:


COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE:

Requests for vaccination appointments can be made by calling (828) 695-5881 or visiting https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/public-health/forms/request-an-appointment/. You can also find additional vaccine distributors at https://www.vaccines.gov/.


COVID-19 Vaccine
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who can currently get the vaccine?

A: Everyone 5 and older is currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

Q: When can I get the vaccine?

A: Vaccines appointments are readily available through the Public Health Department by calling 828.282.2002. To locate a vaccine provider in your area, go to https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines

Q: How do I schedule my vaccine?

A: Individuals can request an appointment by calling Public Health at 828.282.2002.

Q: Where can I get the vaccine?

A: The vaccine is currently being administered at Catawba County Public Health at 3070 11th Ave Drive SE in Hickory. No appointment is necessary. To locate a vaccine provider in your area, go to https://www.vaccines.gov/.

Q: What is the cost of the vaccine?

A: There is no charge for the vaccine.

Q: How do I schedule my second dose?

A: Your second dose will be scheduled during your first appointment.

Q: Which vaccine will I receive?

A: Public Health is currently administering Pfizer, Moderna, and Jansen (Johnson and Johnson)

Q: Will I receive documentation that I received the vaccine?

A: You will receive a vaccination card with the name of the vaccine you received, the date of administration and the where the vaccine was administered. For individuals receiving Moderna and Pfizer vaccine, a second vaccine dose will be needed 21-28 days after your first dose. This date will also be provided to you when you receive your first dose. You will receive information about the v-safe vaccine monitoring system if you are interested in participating..

Q: If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get vaccinated?

A: Current recommendations from the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices state that people who have had COVID-19 should get a COVID-19 vaccine after they are out of their isolation period and major symptoms have resolved. If treated with monoclonal antibodies, the recommendation is to wait 90 days before vaccination.

Q: How do I get proof of vaccination if I lost the card I was given?

Go to the COVID 19 Vaccine Recipient Portal at https://covid-vaccine-portal.ncdhhs.gov

Log in using the email address associated with your account plus “.covid19vaccine.org”
Example: janedoe@gmail.com.covid19vaccine.org

Then enter your password. If you forgot your username or password, use the links provided to reset.

Once you are able to log in to the site. Go to My Dashboard located in the blue header. Then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Generate Vaccine Information PDF. You can print or save the official record of your vaccinations.

If any of your profile information is incorrect (spelling of name, email address, phone number, address), you can edit this information under Profile located in the blue header on the home page.

Q: Is CVMC offering boosters and additional doses of the COVID vaccine?

A: The FDA has said a booster dose is recommended for the everyone ages 16 and above who have been vaccinated for 6 months or more with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. A booster dose is recommended for everyone who have been vaccinated for 2 months or more with the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised remain eligible for an additional dose if they received Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). . Individuals can contact Public Health by calling (828) 695-5881, for an appointment or by visiting https://www.catawbacountync.gov/county-services/public-health/forms/request-an-appointment/.


Coronavirus Updates:

Please continue to monitor this page for coronavirus (COVID-19) updates related to Catawba Valley Health System and our physician practices.

Prevention

The steps to preventing coronavirus transmission are similar to the steps to preventing other respiratory illnesses, like the flu. The following are common-sense measures all North Carolinians can take to prepare for potential widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the state:

Individuals and communities should familiarize themselves with recommendations to protect themselves and their community from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses.

Individuals, Families and Communities

  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.
  • It is also good practice to start being more aware of the number of times a day your hands touch an object or hard surface and then touch your face without being washed. Limiting the exposure of your nose, mouth and eyes to unwashed hands can help to protect from the spread of all germs and illnesses.
  • Have a plan in case you need to miss work or other responsibilities due to personal illness or to care for a sick family member.

For pregnant women and children, review the information and guidance available on the CDC website.

All North Carolinians can better prepare for COVID-19 by getting up-to-date information directly from reliable sources like the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus) and the CDC (cdc.gov/coronavirus). The COVID-19 outbreak has been accompanied by a global flood of misinformation from unreliable sources. Be thoughtful about what you read or hear about the virus and make sure you are separating rumor from fact before you act.

Managing Your Health at Home

If you have possible or confirmed COVID-19:

  1. Stay home from work, school, and away from other public places. If you must go out, avoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis.
  2. Monitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider immediately.
  3. Get rest and stay hydrated.
  4. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider ahead of time and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19.
  5. For medical emergencies, call 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that you have or may have COVID-19.
  6. Cover your cough and sneezes.
  7. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  8. As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. If you need to be around other people in or outside of the home, wear a facemask.
  9. Avoid sharing personal items with other people in your household, like dishes, towels, and bedding
  10. Clean all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs. Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions

How the Hospital is Prepared

At Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC), we put best practices into action to prevent the spread of illness and infection to patients, visitors and staff within our facility.

Year-round we are in a daily state of preparedness regarding the prevention and spread of infection. We strictly follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and North Carolina Public Health guidance for infection prevention.

We have strong collaborative relationships with local and state health departments, as well as emergency personnel, to constantly monitor the latest developments of emerging infections, including, but not limited to, the 2019 novel coronavirus.

We also have a number of isolation precautions we follow for various types of infectious diseases. These precautions include:

  • Proper hand hygiene procedures are strictly enforced;
  • Depending on a patient’s diagnosis, personal protective equipment may include gloves, gown, respiratory protection, and eye protection for personnel entering an infectious patient’s room;
  • Negative-pressure patient care rooms are used as needed to minimize the possibility of spreading infectious diseases;
  • Visitation restrictions are put into place as needed to reduce the potential spread of infectious diseases;
  • Notifications and education are posted for both visitors and staff;
  • Masks and hand-sanitizing stations are made available for visitors and located throughout our facility.

Additionally, we hold daily safety huddles that include reminders about best practices for preventing infections.

In the case of coronavirus, we screen patients at entry points per CDC guidelines that include questions pertaining to travel history and a full assessment of signs and symptoms.

While infectious diseases can be frightening for the community, they are a part of the normal scope of care within our hospital and we are committed to following best practices that help keep our patients, visitors and staff safe and healthy.

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