The Orange County Health Department shared its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for residents on Friday, a phased rollout of the drug mirroring that of North Carolina’s health department.

With the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine earning approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration Friday, North Carolina is expected to receive thousands of initial doses. Vaccination, however, will not be immediately available to all people, with Orange County saying it will prioritize health care workers who face regular, high risk of exposure to the virus.

“A tested, safe and effective vaccine will be available to all who want it, but supplies will be limited at first,” Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart said in Friday’s release. “Although the vaccines were developed quickly, they were built upon years of work in developing vaccines for similar viruses.”

The decision to vaccinate health care workers initially comes from recommendations from independent state and federal public health advisory committees, which both the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Orange County Health are following. Such health care workers, like doctors, nurses and those who care for coronavirus-infected patients, will be in Phase 1A of distribution.

Phase 1B, of a similar priority, will be residents with two or more chronic health conditions that put them at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and essential frontline workers who face high risk of exposure. The Centers for Disease Control list adults with conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes and serious heart conditions as fitting this priority scale. Essential workers like police, teachers and health care workers not in Phase 1A will also be able to receive the vaccine during this distribution stage.

Other Orange County residents and North Carolinians will become prioritized following this initial phase, depending on the manufacturing of more COVID-19 vaccine doses. Phase 2 will focus on adults at high risk for exposure to the coronavirus, like essential workers who did not qualify in Phase 1, and adults 65 and older. Phase 3 will be students and critical industry workers. Those in the final stage of distribution, Phase 4, will be anyone who wants a vaccination but did not qualify for the previous phases.

Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners Renee Price shared a message of encouragement to county residents on Friday, saying following this distribution plan will help return the community to a new normal.

“Public health and our economy are inseparable,” said Price. “When all of us come together to take the vaccine, we can end this pandemic, and this will lead to a faster economic recovery.”

More information on the NCDHHS vaccine distribution plan can be found on the department’s website. More details on Orange County’s response to COVID-19 can be found on the county government’s website.

 

Photo via University of Oxford/John Cairns and the Associated Press.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Senior Centers Work to Combat Loneliness Amid Social Isolation
The Orange County Department on Aging suspended activities at its senior centers on March 16 due to the risks presented by COVID-19. This includes activities at the Passmore Center in Hillsborough and the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill. The two Orange County senior centers serve about 700 people every single day, whether it be providing […]
Orange County Shares Early Voting, Photo ID Details for 2023 Elections
The Orange County recently sharing its early voting locations and hours for 2023, with the period beginning on Thursday, October 19.
Orange County Ends COVID-19 Testing Services After Nearly 3 Years
After nearly three years of offering PCR tests for COVID-19, the Orange County Health Department has officially halted its testing services.
UNC Joins Orange County for Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, Memorial Reflection
Orange County held its annual Veterans Day ceremony near the site of the county Veterans Memorial on Friday morning, with much of the traditional program. There was a recognition of all armed forces, a prominent guest speaker and an update on the ongoing construction phases of the memorial outside the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill. […]
Orange County: Abortion Rights, COVID Vaccines and July 4th Safety
Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Renée Price speaks with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, June 29. She shares her reaction to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision and perspective on the right to abortions being turned over to state governments. Plus, Price shares details on the county's COVID-19 vaccine rollout for infants and some key advice before the long weekend!
Orange County’s Efforts To Equitably Vaccinate Minority Communities Show Early Success
While several of Orange County’s minority communities have been underrepresented in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution so far, the county’s efforts to mitigate these barriers appear to be effective when compared to those across the state. Despite the African American, Hispanic, and Asian American communities of Orange County respectively accounting for 12.4 percent, 8.6 percent, and […]
Winter Weather Slows COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments to NC, Orange County
North Carolina state leaders said Thursday the winter weather experienced in many parts of the country have caused shipping delays to doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Health Officials Say It Is 'Unlikely' Group 3 Will Be Vaccinated Immediately
With the current, limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine, teachers and school personnel may have to wait to be vaccinated despite becoming eligible on February 24.
More Than 4,200 Register for Coronavirus Vaccinations in Orange County
More than 4,200 residents have applied to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through Phase 1B of distribution, the Orange County Health Department announced on Friday. This week, North Carolina moved into Phase 1B of distribution — meaning all residents age 75 and older can apply to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Orange County confirmed that appointment slots […]
Orange County Shares Eventual Vaccine Distribution Plan for Residents
The Orange County Health Department shared its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for residents on Friday, a phased rollout of the drug mirroring that of North Carolina’s health department. With the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine earning approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration Friday, North Carolina is expected to receive thousands of initial doses. Vaccination, however, […]
›