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North Carolina entered 1b on Monday, the next phase of its COVID-19 vaccine deployment plan, which means people aged 75 and older and more essential workers should soon have access to vaccines.
Each county will handle the distribution of COVID-19 to seniors differently. In a state briefing last week, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr Mandy Cohen said she expected to share more information soon on the updated deployment plan. vaccine day.
Wake County released a statement saying local doctors, health departments and hospitals are working on a common strategy to vaccinate people aged 75 and older. The strategy may involve vaccination of the elderly at home.
A statement on the Wake County COVID-19 website read: “Right now there aren’t enough vaccines to move to phase 1b. Wake County is vaccinating those who qualify for Phase 1a with the limited supply available. Phase 1a includes thousands of health workers. , medical staff and first responders who work with patients with COVID-19, staff helping to administer vaccines, as well as long-term care staff and residents. “
In Wake County, essential workers who have not been vaccinated and the elderly should 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 favored for healthcare workers and for 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% after the second dose. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses.
Phases 2, 3 and 4 are as follows
Phase 2, the next phase, will allow adults at high risk of exposure and at increased risk of serious illness to be vaccinated, including anyone between the ages of 65 and 74, regardless of their health or circumstances. of life.
Under phase 2, people under the age of 65 can be vaccinated if they have a medical condition that increases the risk of serious illness from COVID-19, as well as the remaining essential workers and people who live or work in care facilities.
During phase 3, college, university, and high school students aged 16 or over can be vaccinated. When the state enters phase 4, anyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get one.
Cohen said it would be months before COVID-19 vaccines were widely available to the public.
“Until most people are vaccinated, everyone should continue to wear a mask, wait six feet from each other and wash their hands,” she said.
Coronavirus spike in North Carolina
North Carolina experienced another spike in COVID-19 cases, the first two days of 2021 showing 19,000 new cases in our state and most counties in red, an area of critical community spread. Doctors told WRAL it would take a full two weeks after Christmas to see the impact of the holidays on COVID-19 numbers.
With many returning to work on Monday, health officials are advising anyone who has traveled or gathered in a large group during the holidays to get tested.
Wake County has set up new testing sites to meet the demand for testing, and some patients are getting results within hours. Appointments are not necessary.
Test sites open on Monday include:
Marsh Creek Park, 3050 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Roberts Park, 1300 E. Martin St.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Method Community Park, 514 Method Road, Raleigh
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North Carolina could exceed 7,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Monday. The number of people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 is 3,576, the highest number since the start of the pandemic.
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