Wendell, NC – North Carolinians belonging to group 4, which includes people with certain underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, can receive the first coronavirus vaccines from Wednesday.
The eligible Wednesday subset of group 4 includes those with high-risk medical illnesses and homeless and imprisoned people who are not yet vaccinated.
Complete list: Who belongs to group 4.
While many counties, including Wake County, are under systems by appointment only, a vaccination clinic that arrives for the first time will begin at 8 a.m. at Corinth Holders High School at 6875 Applewhite Road in Wendell. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be given to eligible people 16 years of age or older.
Last week, another clinic run at Johnston Community College ran out of vaccines even before the clinic opened, as cars lined up hours earlier to make sure they could shoot. The lines are expected to be long again on Wednesday, mainly because it is the first day that people in group 4 can be vaccinated.
People can be asked to get vaccinated if they have any health status, but unlike other groups, they will not have to prove their eligibility. Many of the health conditions, including pregnancy, obesity, and being a previous or current smoker, will be difficult to prove, so clinics operate with an honor system.
According to BMI calculators, a person weighing 5.5 and 150 pounds would be considered overweight. Someone who is 5’10 and 175 pounds would also be considered overweight and would qualify for a vaccine. If you’re not sure whether or not you qualify for a vaccine based on your weight, check out a BMI calculator to see if you fall into the overweight or obesity category.
Smokers are also included in group 4. The term “smoker” is defined as having smoked 100 cigarettes during your lifetime.
Last week, Secretary of State for Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen said she expects vaccines to open in Group 5, all adults who have not been vaccinated, by May.
WRAL has compiled a list of phone numbers and websites for registering for a vaccine in your county, even though you are not required to get a vaccine in your county of residence. Some of the most recent updates include:
Wake County: Groups 1 to 4 have an online vaccine registration system open. After registering, an email will be sent to people when an appointment is available. As the county continues to work to register groups 1-3, people in group 4 may not receive an email until later this week, the county said.
Harnett County Health System will hold mass vaccination clinics on April 19, 26, 31 and March 2. You can find more information about times and places at myharnetthealth.org.
Robeson County vaccinate those of all eligible groups with appointments and routes. To schedule an appointment in advance, call 910-671-3216, 910-671-3220, or 910-671-3255, or send a message that includes your name, phone number, date of birth, and requirements for to the vaccine at covid19vaccine @ hth.co.robeson.nc.us.
Durham County began scheduling appointments for those in group 4 on Thursday and will begin vaccinating them on Wednesday, according to a press release.
In Chatham County, more than 1,000 people in group 4 have already signed up for their vaccine appointments.
Cumberland County is conducting registrations for a drive-thru clinic for the first doses of COVID-19 vaccination to be administered at the Crown complex. To make an appointment, go to co.cumberland.nc.us/covid19vaccine or call 910-678-7657.
In Sampson County, events are scheduled for groups 1-4 on March 17, 26 and 31 at the Sampson County Agro Expo Center and a first-dose clinic on March 24 at Charles E. Perry School only.
Wayne County will begin vaccinating those in group 4 with pre-existing health conditions on Wednesday. The rest of group 4 (all non-vaccinated essential workers) become eligible on April 7th. Appointments can be scheduled online on time.
Lee County suspended the registration of vaccines on Friday after an increase in interest from group 4. “We will probably reopen the registers by phone and online some Monday afternoon,” a spokesman said. Once registration is reopened, individuals can call 919-842-5744 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or complete an online pre-registration form at leecountync.gov/covid19.
Orange County He told WRAL News that they had more than 20,000 names on the waiting list and that as people in Group 4 register, they will be added this Wednesday.