The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced its updated vaccination plan to align with new federal recommendations issued last week.
The NCDHHS said the changes simplify the vaccination process and first protect healthcare professionals who care for patients with COVID-19, people who are most at risk of being hospitalized or die and those at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.
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“While there is still a lot to do, we have moved to 2021 with a powerful tool to stop this pandemic – vaccines,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen. “However, as supplies are very limited, it will take several months for vaccines to be widely available to everyone. Until most people are vaccinated, everyone needs to continue to wear a mask, wait a meter away and wash their hands. “
WATCH: Dr. Cohen explains NC vaccine implementation phases
As the supply of vaccine is limited, states must make it available in stages.
The updated North Carolina plan is described below.
Current phase – Phase 1a: Health workers battling COVID-19 and long-term care workers and residents.
- Local hospitals and health departments are vaccinating health professionals who care and work directly with patients with COVID-19 and those who are giving vaccines. In addition, the federal government is vaccinating residents and employees of long-term care facilities.
Phase 1b: Adults aged 75 and over and essential frontline workers.
The next vaccination phase will be opened in groups.
- Group 1: Anyone aged 75 or over, regardless of medical condition or life situation. People do not need to have a chronic health condition.
- Group 2: Health professionals and essential frontline workers aged 50 or over.
- Group 3: Frontline workers of any age and health professionals of any age, regardless of whether they work directly with COVID-19 patients. This phase is expected to start in early January.
The CDC defines essential frontline workers as first responders (firefighters, police), education (daycare, teachers, support staff), manufacturing, prison officers, public transportation, groceries, food and agriculture, and US postal workers.
Phase 2: Adults at high risk of exposure and increased risk of serious illness.
In this phase, vaccinations will also be opened in groups.
- Group 1: anyone aged 65-74 years, regardless of medical condition or life situation.
- Group 2: Anyone between 16 and 64 years old with a medical condition that increases the risk of serious COVID-19 disease.
- Group 3: Anyone who is incarcerated or living in another close group living environment who has not yet been vaccinated due to age, medical condition or job function.
- Group 4: Essential workers as defined by the CDC who have not yet been vaccinated.
Phase 3: Students.
- College, university and high school students aged 16 or over.
- Younger children will only be vaccinated when the vaccine is approved for them.
Phase 4: Finally, anyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can get it.
More information about the NCDHHS is available here.
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