Fayetteville, NC – State officials say any adult in North Carolina who wants a coronavirus vaccine will be able to get it by May 1, but Cape Fear Valley Health is not waiting that long.
The hospital’s Fayetteville-based system plans to start immunizing anyone aged 16 and older on Tuesday to ensure that their weekly quota of vaccine is used.
“The state has a clear policy that if you take your first doses that week, they expect you to take them that week,” said Chris Tart, vice president of professional services at Cape Fear Valley Health.
Tart said the hospital system last week refused extra doses from the state because officials noted a pause in appointments to groups on the list of priority vaccines that are currently eligible for vaccines. To ensure that the weekly shipment is not cut, he said, they need to open up to the next priority group, which is basically all participants.
“We announced our appointments on Friday at 5 am, and this morning, we are practically full for the entire week,” he said.
Cape Fear Valley Health plans to administer 12,000 vaccines this week at its hospitals and medical facilities in Cumberland, Bladen and Hoke counties.
Last week, the hospital system exceeded 100,000 total vaccinations.
“It is a very impressive feat, receiving so many doses of weapons in 14 weeks just for a hospital system,” said Tart.
Even with Cape Fear Valley Health moving to Group 5 on the priority list, he said, people in higher priority groups, such as health professionals, the elderly and teachers, can still make appointments.
“We still see some stragglers,” he said. “Some people were waiting for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it is a one-dose alternative to two-dose vaccines.”