Raleigh, North Carolina – Wake County will receive thousands more doses of coronavirus vaccine this week, but the number is much lower than health officials wanted.
Wake County expects a 3,900-dose shipment of the Pfizer vaccine to arrive on Tuesday and over each of the next two weeks. Across the state, North Carolina is expected to receive about 145,000 doses each week during this period.
Wake County had requested 10,000 doses this week to vaccinate people at its two clinics. Last week, the county only received 1,000 doses.
On Monday morning, there were still more than 80,000 people on the Wake County vaccination waiting list.
The increase in available vaccine comes from the combination of the federal government delivering more doses to states over the coming weeks and for state officials to rework their vaccine distribution plan.
All 100 county health departments will receive doses in each of the next few weeks after receiving zero doses several weeks in a row.
The state distributes approximately 90,000 doses a week between health departments and hospitals, providing each with a base amount. The remaining 55,000 doses a week will be sent to communities with a high number of people aged 65 or over on low incomes or living in rural or marginalized communities, officials said.
Some doses will also go to high-capacity vaccination clinics, such as one held Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, where more than 20,000 people were shot.
Although many counties run vaccination clinics that do not require an appointment, Wake County is asking eligible groups, which include people over the age of 65, health workers and staff and long-term care center residents. vaccine online or by calling 919-250-1515.
Once someone is registered, they will be called when an appointment and a vaccine are available. Appointments are needed to get a vaccine in Wake County.
According to the State Department of Health and Human Services, you do not need to be vaccinated in your county of residence.