The State of North Carolina has started administering the COVID-19 vaccine to people who are 75+. Please keep reading to see the rest of the schedule for the vaccine, which will be administered in phases.
If you know someone 75 or older, they are eligible now. Read on to learn a little bit about the vaccine, as well as where and when to get vaccinated.
About the vaccine
The following information is from a January 4th update from NC DHHS.
There is no cost to you to get the vaccine, whether or not you have insurance.
There are currently two vaccines that have been approved, one from Pfizer-BioNTech and one from Moderna. Both are 95% effective.
You can not get COVID-19 from the vaccines. There is no COVID-19 in the vaccines.
You will need two doses to build up a strong immunity. The second shot will come 3-4 weeks after the first. It’s important to get two doses of the same vaccine.
Where to get the vaccine
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County will begin administering the vaccine at Bojangles Coliseum, 2700 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021.
People need to register by 980-314-9400 and selecting option 3, or by signing up here.
Cabarrus County
Cabarrus County is offering the vaccinations at Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 NC-49, Concord, starting January 6th, 2021. You can see their schedule here.
Gaston County
Gaston County will start administering the vaccine to those in Phase 1a (healthcare workers, long-term care residents and staff) and Phase 1b (75 years or older) on Friday, January 8th, 2021, at Gastonia Farmer’s Market, 410 E Long Avenue, Gastonia.
You need an appointment to receive the vaccine. Call 704-866-3170 to book your appointment.
Union County
Union County’s vaccination information is here.
If you’re part of Phase 1a (see below) Union County Public Health is in contact with organizations. If your organization has not been contacted, email Jason Gurian.
If you’re in phase 1b, group 1 (age 75+) call 704-292-2550 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m to be registered for a vaccination appointment.
Iredell County
Here’s where Iredell County is updating information on the vaccine. On this page, no dates or locations for vaccinations of Phase 1b (age 75+) is listed, but they do say: To be notified when vaccine clinic dates for Phase 1b group 1 are occurring, please email iredell.publicinfo@co.iredell.nc.us and specify you meet qualifications for priority phase 1b, group 1, so hopefully a vaccination clinic will be announced soon.
North Carolina’s Schedule for the COVID-19 Vaccine
North Carolina doesn’t have enough of the vaccine to vaccinate everyone at once, so it has prioritized certain groups who are more at risk of exposure or complications.
Phase 1a: Health care workers fighting COVID-19 & Long-Term Care staff and residents
- Health care workers caring for and working directly with patients with COVID-19, including staff responsible for cleaning and maintenance in those areas
- Health care workers administering vaccine
- Long-term care staff and residents—people in skilled nursing facilities and in adult, family and group homes.
Phase 1b: Adults 75 years or older and frontline essential workers
There is not enough vaccine for everyone in this phase to be vaccinated at the same time. Vaccinations will be available to groups in the following order.
- Group 1: Anyone 75 years or older, regardless of health status or living situation
- Group 2: Health care workers and frontline essential workers 50 years or older
The CDC defines frontline essential workers as first responders (e.g., firefighters and police officers), corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the education sector (teachers and support staff members) as well as child care workers. - Group 3: Health care workers and frontline essential workers of any age
Phase 2: Adults at high risk for exposure and at increased risk of severe illness
Vaccinations will happen by group in the following order:
- Group 1: Anyone 65-74 years old, regardless of health status or living situation
- Group 2: Anyone 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions that increase risk of severe disease from COVID such as cancer, COPD, serious heart conditions, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes, among others, regardless of living situation
- Group 3: Anyone who is incarcerated or living in other close group living settings who is not already vaccinated due to age, medical condition or job function.
- Group 4: Essential workers not yet vaccinated.
The CDC defines these as workers in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater, food service, shelter and housing (e.g., construction), finance (e.g., bank tellers), information technology and communications, energy, legal, media, and public safety (e.g., engineers), and public health workers.
Phase 3: Students
- College and university students
- K-12 students age 16 and over. Younger children will only be vaccinated when the vaccine is approved for them.
Phase 4: Everyone who wants to be vaccinated
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