Chapel Hill, N.C. – United Health is expected to receive Pfizer’s corona virus vaccine Monday at several North Carolina hospitals.
A total of 85,800 doses of the Pfizer-Bioentech vaccine are expected to reach 53 hospitals in the state this week. Five triangular area hospitals, including UNC Medical Center, Wakmet Raleigh, UNC Rex, Duke University Hospital and Cape Fear Valley Health System, will receive maximum volumes in the first week.
Mike Lyons, vice president of UNC Health Pharmacy, said the UNC has been preparing for the vaccine for six months. Leading medical staff working closely with corona virus patients are the first to receive shots.
“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes. We are working to make sure we have a plan to vaccinate high – risk workers,” Lyons said.
The first week UNC will receive the maximum amount of tones, which will vaccinate 45% of the staff at UNC Rex and 20% of staff at UNC Medical Center. At Duke, doses can help vaccinate up to 13% of employees, and at Wakmed, 35% of employees can be vaccinated from first-round vaccines.
Officials said Duke workers can register to vaccinate first come first served. According to Dr. Cameron Wolf, hundreds of workers can be vaccinated every day, depending on the staff.
According to Lyons, most hospitals in North Carolina will receive the first vaccines by Wednesday.
Health officials said the Pfizer vaccine is very fragile and should be stored in a very cool place. UNC has a plan to protect those levels.
“Throughout UNC Health we have developed capacity and we have unwanted methods,” Lyons said. But, if their storage methods fail, the UNC holds bulk containers of dry ice across the state to keep the vaccines cool.
“It’s a big responsibility, but we’re proud,” Lyons said.
Efforts to vaccinate residents and staff in nursing homes are being led by the federal government through CVS and Walkreens, and will begin after Moderna’s vaccine is approved. Vaccines will be given in clinics and pharmacies, despite the occurrence of vaccinations, after hospitals and nursing homes.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said last week that “we are not there yet,” but NCDHS will share weekly updates on the vaccine.
NC corona virus cases climb
These exports have come as the government reports a high number of corona virus cases. As of Sunday, 6,819 new corona virus cases had been reported in the state. The total number of confirmed cases reported on Sunday is the second highest since the outbreak began.
North Carolina reached 6,000 new cases for the first time last Saturday. As of Friday, the government had registered 7,500 new cases.
On Sunday, more than 2,500 people were hospitalized for the corona virus.
North Carolina has now averaged 11.1% positive over the past seven days. Health officials are trying to keep the rate of positive tests below 5% – North Carolina last reached on September 24th.
What’s next for healthcare providers
State and local leaders will coordinate to distribute the corona virus vaccine based on who needs it the most. Along with health care workers, residents of long-term care facilities are the first to receive Pfizer vaccine.
The corona virus vaccine is free to all – let insurance companies and the federal government cover the cost.