Sanford, NC The demand for coronavirus vaccine overwhelmed telephone lines in Lee County on Monday morning after the province began accepting registrations of people with health conditions that increased their risk of the virus.
Lee County was the first province to allow people in Group 4 of the state’s vaccination priority list to register for vaccinations.
Around 10:00, the province’s IT staff had to close the vaccination center and set up a new number. Less than three hours later, provincial officials suspended registrations altogether due to the limited vaccine supply.
“The health department has vaccinations available to complete all vaccination clinics currently scheduled. New registrations will only be accepted before additional vaccines are secured,” officials said in a news release.
County spokesman Jamie Brown said opening up registration for people in group 4 was simply a matter of maintaining a healthy waiting list for vaccinations.
“Like many other local health departments across the state, we are on the verge of cancellations and no action at our vaccine clinics, as individuals make multiple appointments in hopes of receiving the vaccine faster,” said country spokesman Jamie Brown. said in an email to WRAL News. “Although we understand the desire to be vaccinated as soon as possible, it has created a logistical problem for the health department as we plan for our clinics.”
Dr. John Anderson, medical officer for Duke Primary Care, said making multiple appointments is the best option for people who want to get vaccinated faster.
“It always helps to be proactive in this regard,” Anderson said, recommending that people contact their primary care physicians, district health departments and providers such as the Duke University Health System.
“Many smaller practices can’t administer the vaccine, but they can at least direct patients where they need to go,” he said.
North Carolina suppliers have so far administered more than 2.8 million vaccinations, with 10.3 percent of state residents fully vaccinated.
Duke Primary Care plans to open its first drive-through vaccination clinic at Arringdon Park Drive, 5601, in Morrisville on Tuesday for people on the Duke Health waiting list.
“We would like to be able to give about 500 a day to start with,” Anderson said. “If we increase it and get better at it, the number may increase.”
The clinic will provide the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which according to Anderson works better in a drive-through format because it requires less patient monitoring after the shot than the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Another option: A mass vaccination staff run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open outside a mall in Greensboro on Wednesday, with plans to deliver up to 21,000 shots a week over the next eight weeks.
Durham resident Michael Palmer, who has already been vaccinated, says word of mouth is a great way to get the fastest chance.
“Most of us, in our network of relationships, especially Baby Boomers like me, have friends who have been shot. So there are a lot of resources within that network of information,” Palmer said.
Thomas Murray, who has not yet been vaccinated, agrees.
“I think with the way word-of-mouth travel is, I feel that once you have a few friends who already know it, and that everyone helps each other, I do not think it should be too big a problem. , “Murray said. said.
Duke Health is unlikely to start vaccinating anyone in Group 4 before March 24, which is the date set by government officials last week, Anderson said.
Brown said Lee County will also only start vaccinating someone later this month. A Facebook message from the country says it could be as early as March 17, depending on the availability of vaccines.
Other provincial health departments and providers have said they do not plan to vaccinate group 4 members before March 24.
“We are following state guidelines and will begin registering people in Group 4 on March 24,” Orange County spokesman Tod McGee said in an email. “That does not mean we will have vaccines for it. People in groups 2 and 3 will still be in front of them in the queue.”
“We are currently still working through our waiting list to vaccinate the individuals in groups 1 to 3 who are on our waiting list. In the coming weeks, we plan to evaluate our waiting list and will expand to additional groups,” Ashley said. ‘s spokesman said. Deans Bauer said in an email.
According to the state, people do not have to be vaccinated in the same province.