Raleigh, NC – Although North Carolina remains focused on vaccinating health professionals, residents and employees at long-term care for the coronavirus, some counties in the area are also starting to vaccinate people 75 and older.
But the change, as well as the general effort to implant the vaccine in the state, is causing confusion and frustration.
The Wilson County Health Department, for example, is using some of the 800 doses of vaccine it has for the elderly, but officials have told people they should call and make an appointment to be vaccinated. However, telephone problems and an overwhelming response prevented that plan on Monday, prompting many people to attend health department offices.
“I am 82 years old and my husband 87, and has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. So, of course, of course we want to,” said Undine Lamm of the vaccine.
The couple drove from Elm City to the health department offices in Wilson to make an appointment, but were refused.
“We are here to try to make an appointment to get the COVID vaccine,” said Lamm. “I called 12 [or] 13 times this morning, I tried and I can’t. … The lady says: ‘Well, you have to call to make an appointment. That is the only way to do this. ‘”
Bill Robinette of Wilson had the same problem.
“I called a lot and said I would only come here in person and see if I could get an appointment that way, but they said you still need to call and make a phone call,” said Robinette.
Annette Clark, 82, was able to make an appointment last week and received her first dose of the vaccine on Monday.
“It was painless, effortless and I went in and out,” said Clark. “This is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Wilson County Health Director Teresa Ellen said she hopes to have the phone problems resolved by Tuesday. The department is also working to create an online portal for scheduling vaccination appointments.
Elsewhere, the Person County Health Department had to extend its seniors vaccination clinic hours on Thursday to 9:00 am at noon and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm and add a second clinic from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm on Wednesday fair to accommodate demand. Northampton County also plans to start vaccinating elderly people on Wednesday. Both counties said people needed to schedule appointments in advance.
Halifax County expects to start vaccinating elderly people next week, and UNC Health Southeastern will begin vaccinating people aged 75 and over in Robeson County on Wednesday.
Each county is handling vaccination for the elderly differently. Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, said last week that officials would have a better idea this week of what the process will look like.
Wake County issued a statement saying local doctors, health departments and hospitals are working on a joint strategy to vaccinate the elderly.
“There is currently not enough vaccine to move to Phase 1b. Wake County is vaccinating those who qualify for Phase 1a with limited supplies available. Phase 1a includes thousands of health professionals, medical staff and first responders who work with COVID – 19 patients, employees who help administer vaccines, as well as long-term care workers and residents, “says a statement on the county website.
County officials said 3,800 people are on a vaccination waiting list, but the county has only 2,020 doses left, meaning more than 1,700 people will have to wait for the next vaccine shipment to get the vaccine.
The first Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which were administered in the United States in mid-December, were prioritized for healthcare professionals and those who live or work in long-term care facilities.
It has been 21 days since the first COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, was administered in the Triangle. Anyone who received the Pfizer vaccine on December 14 can now receive their second dose, since three weeks have passed.
The Pfizer vaccine appears to be about 52% effective after the first dose and 95% effective after the second dose. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, with four weeks separating the two vaccines for those receiving the Moderna vaccine.
Doctors’ offices also waiting
People aged 75 and over are only the first group in the Phase 1b implementation plan. The second group in this phase includes health workers who are not treating patients with COVID-19 and “essential” workers aged 50 and over, including first responders, teachers, postal workers and supermarket workers. The third group in this phase includes essential workers aged 49 and under.
Dr. Brian Bowman, a Cary pediatrician, complained to DHHS officials about the lack of vaccination information for health care professionals like him, who do not treat patients with COVID-19 but still face risks of exposure.
“If you don’t know we’re here, how are we going to know if we’re going to get the vaccine?” Bowman said. “We are certainly not intensive care units in emergency rooms, but we still have significant potential exposure.”
He sent a letter to DHHS last week asking when his group would receive the vaccine. They will now understand this week. He said he is not sure if the letter was what allowed them to stick to the schedule, but he is very concerned about the lack of doctors in other parts of the state.
“It was not completely transparent, it was not clear where we needed to go and how to do it,” he said. “It looks like we are in individual silos and we have to take care of ourselves to take care of our team so that we can stay here and be open during that time.”
After weeks of waiting, Dr. Beverly Edwards, a pediatrician in Ahoskiefinally got Hertford The County Department of Health must schedule vaccinations for her and her office staff.
“We have called, we and the others peds the offices have been calling them every day because we know that they received the vaccine for at least two to three weeks, “said Edwards.” They should have a plan to give us the injection before everyone else, but they haven’t really created that plan yet. “
After Phase 1b, adults at high risk of exposure or increased risk of serious illness will be vaccinated in Phase 2. This includes people aged 65 to 74 and those under 65 who have a medical condition that increases their risk of serious illness. of COVID-19. Other essential workers and people who live or work in care institutions are also in Phase 2.
In Phase 3, college, university and high school students aged 16 and over can be vaccinated. Phase 4 is open to anyone who wants to be vaccinated.
Cohen said it will be months before vaccines are widely available to the public.
Increased coronavirus in North Carolina
North Carolina saw another increase in coronavirus cases, with the first two days of 2021 showing 19,000 new cases across the state.
Another 5,187 infections were reported on Monday, when the state set a record with 16.5 percent of positive virus tests. State officials have set a target of 5% or less for this metric.
In the last week, the state recorded an average of 7,056 new cases per day; for the first time during the pandemic, that number exceeded 7,000.
North Carolina also set its third consecutive daily record on Monday for people in hospitals with COVID-19, at 3,635. Hospitals are 74% full and only 17% of intensive care beds are available.
Wake County has created new sites to meet the demand for coronavirus tests, and some patients are receiving results within hours. No compromises are necessary.
The test sites opened on Monday include:
- Marsh Creek Park, 3050 N. New Hope Road in Raleigh, from 11 am to 4 pm
- Roberts Park, 1300 E. Martin St. in Raleigh, from 11 am to 4 pm
- Method Community Park, 514 Method Road in Raleigh, from 11 am to 4 pm