Rocky Mount, NC – The effort to vaccinate the elderly against coronavirus continues to have a difficult launch in North Carolina.
On Thursday, vehicles lined up for miles to a drive-thru vaccination clinic that the Nash County Health Department held outside of Nash Central High School on Rocky Mount.
People started lining up at 6am for the 1pm clinic, which was geared towards vaccinating people aged 75 and over.
“Nobody wants to catch him. That’s why I’ve been here since 6:30 am this morning waiting to get the vaccine,” Pat Said Mauldin.
“It’s important because we, like millions of other people, I’m sure, have been home since March,” said Marie Mullins, a retired teacher.
“People will be able to go back to work and lead a normal life,” said Mullins, holding back tears. “Much more important than traveling or even family … people can go back to work and have a new life and food in their children’s and children’s school lunch – and that’s what matters.”
he said, stifling tears. “[It’s] more important for people to be able to go back to work and lead a normal life. “
James Ervin, 79, said he brought snacks, drinks and his newspaper to keep him busy while he waited.
“From what I’m seeing and the traffic lined up, I can be stopped today. I hope not,” said Ervin. “I am concerned that others will also receive yours, of course.”
The health department had only 1,000 doses of vaccine available for distribution on a first-come, first-served basis.
Health director Bill Hill said his team did their best to notify people immediately when the line was getting too long, so they didn’t waste time.
“It is bad to wait three hours and give an injection, but it is worse to wait three hours and not have one available,” said Hill. “It is difficult to send people away, but even [Wednesday], we were talking about a makeup clinic for this one. “
Similar lines were seen on Wednesday when other counties began to move to Phase 1B of the national vaccine distribution plan. Long lines formed at community centers, hospitals and vaccine clinics in Cumberland, Halifax and Wayne counties, among others.
Health workers who deal with patients and residents of COVID-19 and employees of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities were in Phase 1A, which started last month. Some counties, including much of the Triangle, remain in this phase while trying to inoculate their large number of health professionals.
The first group in Phase 1B is made up of people aged 75 and over.
On Wednesday, a vaccine clinic at the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville closed 30 minutes after opening, when the crowd quickly exceeded the number of 250 doses of vaccine available. In Goldsboro, the elderly waited hours in line just for the chance to sign up for one of 550 COVID-19 vaccines available this week.
A vaccine clinic was opened on Thursday for a second day at Halifax Community College. Employees there said they expected a lesser turnout than on Wednesday, when lines lined the parking lot while people waited outside for hours.
Although thousands of eligible North Carolina citizens are seeking vaccines, counties have a very limited supply and are asking residents to be patient. State health officials assured North Carolina residents that anyone who wants to be vaccinated will have their chance, but the distribution will take time.
Nursing homes still need vaccines
Although much of the state is moving forward with Phase 1B, it is estimated that coronavirus vaccines have reached only a quarter of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in North Carolina.
As part of an effort to vaccinate Phase 1A long-term care staff and residents, Walgreens and CVS staff members have been visiting facilities to administer vaccines as part of a federal contract.
Adam Sholar, president and chief executive of the North Carolina Health Facilities Association, said he expects vaccines to reach all facilities by the end of the month.
“Some clinics seemed a little more organized than others, but from what we’re hearing, I think, at this point, we can say that it was the first week of what is really an unprecedented launch and something we’re keeping our eyes on,” he said. .
Sholar said that while the vast majority of nursing home residents received the vaccine well, long-term care workers were less willing. He said he expects the attitude to change as clinics continue in the coming weeks.