UNC Health acquires 725 vials of COVID-19 vaccine for Orange County Department of Health

CHAPEL HILL, NC (WTVD) – National problems with vaccine deployment have emerged locally.

UNC Health said in an internal email obtained by Eyewitness News that they had acquired 725 COVID-19 vaccines – originally intended for the Orange County Department of Health – on Thursday evening which “must be” used by Monday morning.

It is not known why the health department turned them over to UNC.

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When emailed, the Orange County Health Department sent the same email forwarded to ABC11 by UNC Health which reads:

“UNC Health has been informed that Orange County has a number of vaccine vials available for immediate use.

UNC Health worked closely with Orange County to ensure that all vaccines would be used with zero waste and that all of these vaccines would go to either Phase 1-A staff or staff working with COVID patients. 19 to a certain extent.

This cooperation was successful, and all available stock was used appropriately. “

The UNC has put in place overtime this weekend to vaccinate as many Phase 1-A staff (COVID-19 health workers, long-term care staff and residents) between 7 a.m. 12 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
State health officials have asked for time in the complex deployment process: Some hospitals only received shipments of the vaccine two weeks earlier, local health departments received theirs last week.

Over the past week, Orange County Health was scheduled to receive 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

“These are the same health departments and the same hospitals with the most COVID patients they have seen throughout this pandemic and we appreciate everyone’s patience,” said Dr Mandy Cohen , Secretary of Health.

ABC News reported this week that the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine is progressing more slowly than expected this month, fueling fears the federal government has mismanaged the effort and will have to wait months longer than expected to to get vaccinated.

Public health officials have warned that the biggest test will take place in 2021 when the inventory finally expands and the general public raises their hands for a shot.