The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently provided additional information on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan. North Carolina’s goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible and as quickly as possible, but supplies of the COVID-19 vaccines are limited.
Currently, the state is vaccinating individuals who are in Group 1, health care workers, and Group 2, persons who are 65 years or older, regardless of health status or living situation. Faculty, staff and students who qualify for vaccination under Group 1 and Group 2 are encouraged to receive the vaccine if they are able to do so.
Under the state’s plan, frontline essential workers are eligible to be vaccinated under Group 3 in an effort to protect those at high risk of exposure. According to the recently released guidance, frontline essential workers are people who must be in-person at their place of work and work in one of eight specific essential sectors, which includes education. College and university instructors and support staff are included in Group 3 as long as they are in-person at their place of work. Most students will be able to get the vaccine in later groups.
NCDHHS has created a tool to help individuals identify what group they qualify under and to sign up to be notified when they are eligible for vaccination.
At this time, there is no way to predict when the state will begin vaccinating individuals in Group 3 or subsequent groups. The University will share more information after additional guidance is received.