A grant, totaling tens of thousands of dollars, is in the pipeline to help Haywood County with COVID vaccinations. But commissioners put the grant on hold after hearing concerns from some community members.
The $75,000 grant from the state to Haywood County is designed to increase access to the COVID vaccine. But some who showed up at the most recent commissioners meeting said they don't want grant money going in that direction.
“I am not asking but pleading not to take any more money to help promote this COVID vaccine,” Haywood County Republican Party chairperson Kay Miller said.
Miller was among four residents who argued last week against the grant, believing the vaccine creates health problems and government funding is an intrusion into individual rights.
“It even mentions about school-based vaccination, which makes me crazy,” Janet Presson said.
“I’m very concerned about the focus on children. I’m concerned about parental rights,” Renee Rickman said.
“The vaccine has proven to be very harmful to the reproductive organs of our young children,” said Barry Peppen, who also claimed the vaccine disrupts EKG rhythms of pilots.
Haywood County Medical Director Dr. Mark Jaben called foul.
“Three days ago, I think, the FAA dismissed that as a concern,” Jaben said. “Virtually none of those concerns have actually panned out in the real world to be concerns -- none of the pregnancy and fertility concerns that we've had."
Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley said the purpose of the grant was to help the health department.
“The grant was primarily going to be used by our health department to help supplant salaries and some supplies that we've used to contact and let people know what they can do to get the vaccine if they'd like,” he said.
The effort, Ensley said, is especially focused on reaching the underserved.
But, with residents' concerns and questions from board members, addressing the grant was put on hold.
“To pause and learn more to be sure they make the best decision possible, it's the responsible thing for them to do,” Jaben said.
But Jaben said getting the vaccine far outweighs not getting it.
“The risk of death is six times lower than for someone unvaccinated. To be able to say that vaccines aren't effective is just to ignore things that are right out there in front of you,” he said.
Ensley said the grant, and more details about how it would work, will be considered when the board meets Feb 6.