A Message from NCTracks on Behalf of NC Medicaid Message from Dave Richard: North Carolina Vaccine Prioritization Plan Update

Thank you for all that you are doing to support North Carolina’s response to COVID-19. 

A tested, safe and effective vaccine will be available to all who want it, but supplies are currently limited and will continue to be for the next few months. To save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19, independent state and federal public health advisory committees recommend first protecting health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19, people who are at the highest risk of being hospitalized or dying, and those at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Based on new federal recommendations issued last week by the CDC Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the Department has updated and simplified the vaccine prioritization plan.

North Carolina’s updated phases include:

  • Current Phase - Phase 1a: Health care workers fighting COVID-19 & Long-Term Care staff and residents
  • Phase 1b (to begin in early January): Adults 75 years or older and frontline essential workers
  • Phase 2: Adults at high risk for exposure and at increased risk of severe illness
  • Phase 3: Students
  • Phase 4: Everyone who wants a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination

Because currently there is not enough vaccine for everyone to be vaccinated at the same time, NCDHHS will open the next phase of vaccinations (1b) in groups, starting only with persons above the age of 75 in order to best manage vaccine dose availability. To see all the groups for Phases 1b and Phase 2, please review this Infographic of Vaccine Phases. 

In the coming days, we will be sending more information on how North Carolinians over age 75 will access vaccinations beginning in early January. For those who engage this population, please consider sharing our flyer (English / Spanish) as a first step.

All vaccine providers are expected to ensure that vaccine is equitably administered within each group. NCDHHS has a specific focus on building trust with historically marginalized populations. Longstanding and continuing racial and ethnic injustices in our health care system contribute to lack of trust in vaccines. The Department is partnering with trusted leaders and organizations to provide accurate information about the vaccine.

More detailed information is available at yourspotyourshot.nc.gov and in the resources below:

In addition, we encourage you to share vaccine resources below with your networks.

  • Flyer on Vaccines (English / Spanish)
  • Presentation COVID-Vaccination 101 (English / Spanish)
  • Frequently Asked Questions (English / Spanish)
  • Videos on Vaccine Rollout
  • NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen shares information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan (45-second, 30-second)
  • NCDHHS Deputy Secretary Ben Money shares information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan (link)
  • Videos for Long-Term Care
  • North Carolina long-term care workers share their reason for taking the newly developed COVID-19 vaccine (90-second, 60-second, 30-second)
  • NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen shares information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan long-term care facility workers (60-second)
  • NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen shares information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan for families of long-term care residents (link)
  • NCDHHS Deputy Secretary Ben Money shares information on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan for long-term care facilities (60-second, 30-second)

We are regularly updating the web page. Continue to check the Vaccines page on the website for more information and resources as they are available: yourspotyourshot.nc.gov. The page is also available in Spanish: covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vacuna.

 

Dave Richard

Deputy Secretary, NC Medicaid