On Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services  Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen visited UNC Health’s main COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Friday Center.

In accordance with new federal recommendations, the state has given local entities the flexibility to begin vaccinating North Carolinians over the age of 65 and all health care workers who have in-person contact with patients.

Cooper said the number one priority is to distribute the vaccine as quickly an equitably as possible to all North Carolinians.

“I’m grateful for the health care providers working tirelessly to get these shots into more people’s arms and helping us get to the other side of this pandemic,” Cooper said.

According to the state, in the last week, North Carolina has significantly increased the pace of vaccinations. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is supporting health systems, local health departments and community health centers across the state to host large community vaccine events for people currently eligible to be vaccinated. More than 45,000 vaccines are expected to be given through these events.

“This is all hands-on deck effort, and we appreciate our partners working hard to get people vaccinated as quickly as possible while still focusing on equity,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen. “It is heartwarming to see the joy and relief on people’s face when they receive the vaccine.”

Secretary of the NC Department Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen tours a large-scale vaccination site at UNC’s Friday Center in Chapel Hill Tuesday, Jan. 19 2021. UNC Hospitals hope to administer 2,500 first COVID-19 vaccine doses at the Friday Center by the end of this week. (Photo via Travis Long of the News & Observer)

UNC Health CEO Dr. Wesley Burks said he was “very pleased” to have Cooper and Cohen visit one of UNC’s busiest vaccination sites. He said UNC Health has been working closely with the state to rollout the vaccine as quickly as possible.

“UNC Health and the School of Medicine have been involved in every facet of the battle against COVID-19, from clinical care and therapy development to clinical trials and vaccine roll out,” Burks said. “We are working as quickly as we can to get vaccines in the arms of those 65 years old and older. We are also dedicated to ensuring equity in distribution of the vaccine for our communities.”

With vaccines still in short supply, the state is implementing a phased distribution of the vaccine. UNC Health began vaccinating those 75 and older at the Friday Center on January 11. Under new federal guidelines, as of Tuesday, the healthcare system said 850 people are being vaccinated daily under the newly-established Group 2.

To learn more about who is currently eligible to get vaccinated, click here.

Lead photo via Travis Long of the News & Observer.

 

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