On Monday, North Carolina entered 1b, the next phase of its plan to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning that seniors aged 75 and over and more essential workers will soon have access to vaccines.
Each county will handle the distribution of COVID-19 to the elderly differently. At a state briefing last week, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said she hopes to share more information soon about the updated vaccine distribution plan.
Wake County issued a statement saying local doctors, health departments and hospitals are working on a joint strategy to vaccinate the population aged 75 and over. The strategy may involve vaccinating the elderly in their homes.
A statement on Wake County’s COVID-19 website said: “There is currently not enough vaccine to move to Phase 1b. Wake County is vaccinating those who qualify for Phase 1a with limited supply available. Phase 1a includes thousands of health professionals, medical staff and first responders who deal with COVID-19 patients, staff who help administer vaccines, as well as long-term care staff and residents.
In Wake County, essential workers who have not been vaccinated and the elderly must wait for updates from public health officials.
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.
At least three weeks should separate the administration of the two doses. 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.
Phases 2, 3 and 4 are next
Phase 2, the next phase, will allow adults at high risk of exposure and at greater risk of serious illness to receive vaccines, including anyone aged 65-74, regardless of their medical condition or life situation.
In Phase 2, people under 65 can be vaccinated if they have a medical condition that increases the risk of serious COVID-19 disease, along with the remaining essential workers and people living or working in care facilities.
In Phase 3, college, university and high school students aged 16 and over can be vaccinated. When the state enters Phase 4, anyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine can get it.
Cohen said it would be months before the COVID-19 vaccines were widely available to the public.
“Until most people are vaccinated, everyone needs to continue to wear a mask, wait two meters away and wash their hands,” she said.
Increased coronavirus in North Carolina
North Carolina saw another spike in COVID-19 cases, with the first two days of 2021 showing 19,000 new cases in our state and most counties in red, a critical area of community spread. Doctors told WRAL that it will take two full weeks after Christmas to see the impact of the holiday on COVID-19 numbers.
Since many people return to work on Monday, health officials advise anyone who has traveled or met in a large group during the holidays to take the test.
Wake County has set up new test sites to help with the demand for 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, Raleigh
11am to 4pm
Roberts Park, 1300 E. Martin St.
11am to 4pm
Method Community Park, 514 Method Road, Raleigh
11am to 4pm
As of Monday, North Carolina may exceed 7,000 COVID-19 deaths. The number of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 3,576, the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic.