Transit agencies across the state will soon receive money to transport people to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites at no cost to the rider.

On Thursday, North Carolina’s Department of Transportation and state health department announced that new Coronavirus Relief Funding is being distributed to local transit agencies across the state.

Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mandy Cohen, said this partnership and funding will help to pay for rides for those who need transportation assistance to vaccination clinics.

“Governor Cooper is committed to deploying every resource to make sure people have access [to vaccines] and are not held back by barriers like lack of transportation,” Cohen said. “That’s why the North Carolina Department of Transportation is launching a program to pay for rides for people receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.”

Cohen said each local transit agency will receive a set amount of funding and the initiative will continue until funds are exhausted for that agency. These funds can be used to offset operating costs associated with transit rides to and from vaccination sites for people who are receiving, or assisting someone in receiving, the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Local transit agencies across the state are receiving $2.5 million dollars in coronavirus relief funding to make this happen,” Cohen said. “Lack of transportation shouldn’t be the reason someone doesn’t get their shot.”

This funding is expected to help approximately 30,000 North Carolinians get free transportation to be vaccinated. People who need transportation assistance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should reach out to their local transit agency in any of the state’s 100 counties.

According to the state health department, the COVID-19 vaccine will be available per North Carolina’s rollout plan and free of charge regardless of a person’s access to health insurance or legal status in the country.

To learn more about this transportation initiative, or to see if you currently qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.

 

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