With the news that all frontline essential workers are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on Wednesday, March 3, UNC is communicating plans on how it will affect university employees.

Group 3 includes “college and university instructors and support staff” as well as other front-line essential workers and researchers, as defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Teacher and educators were prioritized by the state and have been receiving the vaccine since February 24, but the shift now means other educators will be able to make appointments.

“If you are eligible under the definition, we encourage you to get vaccinated,” wrote UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz on Tuesday. “There are three FDA-approved vaccines. Our public health and infectious disease experts have indicated that all three vaccines are highly effective and safe.”

The university announced it is working with UNC Health to register all of its employees with North Carolina’s COVID-19 Vaccine Management System. Those who receive a paycheck from UNC will be automatically registered within the system.

After employees are registered with the state, UNC says they will receive a confirmation email:

We expect this to happen later today, and you may receive an email directly from the state system with the line: Vaccine Management System <nccvms@dhhs.nc.gov>. This email is confirming your registration with the state. Please keep it for your records, the University will not have access to that registration information. We have heard that some people may not receive the email from the state. If you do not receive the registration email, you should email CVMS-Help@dhhs.nc.gov for help. You will still be able to schedule an appointment while you wait for a response.

Undergraduate or graduate students who are paid by the university or have a work study program will also be included in the state registration upload.

Guskiewicz also addressed students who are not employees of the university but who are essential workers eligible for the vaccine under Group 3, which includes those who work in restaurants, grocery stores and pharmacies.

“The University is not requiring students, faculty or staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but we do encourage you to get it once it is available to you,” the chancellor wrote. “Federal, state and local public health and medical experts agree that having as many people getting vaccinated as quickly as possible is our best defense against the virus.”

Tuesday’s update in vaccination plans comes as more vaccine doses are being delivered to North Carolina. Last week, the White House announced it will open a community vaccination center in Greensboro that will deliver 3,000 daily vaccines to the area. Governor Roy Cooper also said 80,000 doses of the recently-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine will arrive in North Carolina over the next few days as well.

So far in 2021, UNC has reported 788 COVID-19 cases on campus, with the Carolina Together Dashboard counting 633 students and 155 employees. The university is reporting a 0.5 percent-positive rate from on-campus testing after completing more than 89,000 coronavirus tests this spring.

Secretary of NCDHHS Dr. Mandy Cohen also announced the state aims to make Group 4 eligible on March 24, starting with those with higher-risk medical conditions and those living in congregate living settings.

More details about vaccine eligibility in North Carolina can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

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