The State of North Carolina has started administering the COVID-19 vaccine, in phases. It’s started in Phase 1a, which includes healthcare workers fighting COVID-19, and residents and staff in long-term care centers. Next will be Phase 1b, which includes people who are 75+. Please keep reading to see the rest of the schedule for the vaccine, which will be administered in phases.
Some counties in North Carolina are vaccinating people in Phase 1b (age 75+) but as of the time of this post (Tuesday, January 5th) counties in the Triangle are still in Phase 1a.
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
Wake County
Wake County is still in phase 1a. When it enters 1b, those age 75+ can be vaccinated.
Find updates about the vaccine in Wake County.
Durham County
Durham County is still in phase 1a. When it enters 1b, those age 75+ can be vaccinated.
Find updates about the vaccine in Durham County.
Orange County
Orange County is still in phase 1a. When it enters 1b, those age 75+ can be vaccinated.
Find updates about the vaccine in Orange County.
Chatham County
Chatham County is still in phase 1a. When it enters 1b, those age 75+ can be vaccinated.
Find updates at the vaccine in Chatham County.
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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