As the first wave of early COVID-19 vaccines are distributed across North Carolina, the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill is expected to be one of the first hospital locations to receive doses.

UNC Health said Monday the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services alerted the health care system Sunday about vaccines being sent to the Chapel Hill hospital for a Tuesday arrival. UNC Health locations in Hendersonville and Lenoir are also expected to receive vaccine doses on Tuesday, with UNC REX in Raleigh expected to receive a shipment on Wednesday.

In coordination with NCDHHS, hospital staff deemed to be at regular and high risk of exposure to the coronavirus will be the first to receive the emergency vaccine created by Pfizer. Governor Roy Cooper and Secretary of the state health department Dr. Mandy Cohen said earlier this month this initial round of 84,800 doses will go to such workers before other health care workers and long-term care residents receive shots.

A statement from UNC Health on Monday said it hopes vaccination of staff at the UNC Medical Center will begin as early as Tuesday or Wednesday morning. While strongly encouraged for staff, receiving vaccine shots is not currently mandatory and those vaccinated are not expected to immediately work shifts.

“Across UNC Health, we plan to monitor employees for a short time immediately after vaccine administration and before they return to work,” a health care spokesperson said. “We are working with employees and their supervisors in scheduling the vaccinations to ensure it does not disrupt operations. For example, we don’t want too many vaccinated in one area at one time in case they experience any side effects.”

Distribution of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine comes as North Carolina is experiencing heightened hospitalizations and reported positive cases. NCDHHS reported its second-highest amount of single-day new cases on Sunday and a new stay-at-home order went into effect Friday aiming to limit how many people are out late at night at restaurants and other businesses.

More details on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ plan for COVID-19 vaccination can be found on the department’s website.

 

Photo via the UNC Medical Center.

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