Slow start statewide
Some in Graham County are able to breathe a sigh of relief, as the COVID-19 vaccine is slowly – but surely – rolled out in the community.
County Health Director Beth Booth said that as of Tuesday, 400 doses of the vaccine had been administered in Graham County. The health department receives 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine a week, and is currently vaccinating those aged 75 and older.
Separately, Walgreens has vaccinated residents of Graham Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, the county’s sole long-term care facility as part of the federal “Operation Warp Speed.” program.
“We’ve got lots of people calling to sign up on the waiting list,” Booth said.
She said the 400 in-county vaccinations was around the number she expected to have vaccinated at this point. The county receives 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine a week from the state.
“We’re right on track to use up our allotment every week,” Booth said.
Booth said the county was still focusing on those aged 75 and up, although Gov. Roy Cooper has released the vaccine to those aged 65 and up.
“They took out the essential workers piece, but we vaccinated most of our essential workers otherwise,” Booth added.
She said the county had not yet been able to vaccinate teachers yet, but had been able to inoculate most of the county’s other essential personnel.
“We’re still trying really hard now to get through our elderly and the folks who could potentially die from COVID rather than just contracting COVID,” Booth said.
She said the health department has had lots of interest in the vaccine over the past few weeks and urged patience on the part of county residents.
“There’s a lot of people very impatient to get it – that’s understandable – but we’ve only got so many doses of vaccine and so many staff members,” Booth said.
She emphasized that she had not yet been vaccinated herself, saying that she would wait on her own group and let the vaccines go to those in more danger from the virus than she was. She also said she was not considered a frontline healthcare worker in her position.
“It’s a lot easier for me to quarantine than it is for a lot of other folks,” Booth said.
The Moderna vaccine is administered in two doses, with the second being administered 28 days after the first. Those receiving the vaccine from the health department should set aside at least an hour of time for their appointment. This includes registration paperwork and a 15 minute observation period to ensure no negative reactions to the shot.
The vaccine is administered at no cost, even to those without health insurance.
According to the Carolina Journal News Service, the vast amount of doses statewide have gone to healthcare workers. Carolina Journal also stated that Cooper was asked several questions regarding his administration’s vaccine distribution plan, which has seen a sluggish rollout.
As of Jan. 11, 257,165 doses of the vaccine have been administered statewide. This represents less than 28 percent of the state’s more than 830,000 doses. The state is ranked 43rd nationally for vaccine distribution.