UNC Health said in an internal email obtained by Eyewitness News that they acquired 725 COVID-19 vaccines – originally intended for the Orange County Department of Health – on Thursday night that “must be” used Monday morning market.
It is not clear why the health department handed them over to UNC.
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When sent by email, the Orange County Health Department sent the same email forwarded to ABC11 by UNC Health that says:
“UNC Health was notified that Orange County had several bottles of vaccine available for immediate use.
UNC Health worked closely with Orange County to ensure that all vaccines were used with zero waste and that all of these vaccines would go to Phase 1-A personnel or personnel working with COVID-19 patients in some capacity. .
This cooperation was a success and all the available stock was used appropriately. “
UNC made additional appointments this weekend to get the most out of Phase 1-A staff (health workers fighting COVID-19 and long-term care staff and residents) vaccinated between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday .
State health officials asked for time in the complex implantation process: some hospitals only received shipments of the vaccine two weeks ago, local health departments received theirs last week.
Last week, Orange County Health was scheduled to receive 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
“These are the same health departments and hospitals with the largest number of COVID patients that they saw during this pandemic and we thank everyone for their patience,” said Health Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen.
ABC News reported this week that the launch of the COVID-19 vaccine was moving more slowly than expected this month, fueling fears that the federal government was handling the effort poorly and that it would have to wait months longer than the expected to get your injection.
Public health officials have warned that the biggest test will come in the year 2021, when the stock finally expands and the general public raises their hands for an injection.
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