News Flash

For Immediate Release

12/29/2020                        

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/covid-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Rowan County Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

COVID-19 Vaccination Progress for Rowan County

Across North Carolina, health departments, hospital systems, and private industry are working together to provide vaccinations to individuals in the Phase 1a Essential group which includes Health care workers fighting COVID-19 & Long-Term Care staff and residents. You can review the Deeper Dive Phase 1a document for additional information for what groups are currently being contacted to receive their vaccine. Data on the number of vaccinations completed can be found on the NC DHHS website here: NC DHHS COVID19 Vaccination Data Dashboard.

We know there are many questions about when you or your organization will be able to get your vaccine. Please know that Rowan County Public Health will contact you with more information when that time comes. We are working through the “CVMS” – COVID19 Vaccine Management System coordinated by NC DHHS. This system is new and is causing significant delays. As this happens, we will work to connect and provide vaccinations to all eligible individuals within each phase. Your patience is appreciated during this time. If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to: covid-19@rowancountync.gov.      

Our current distribution plan is broken down into four phases following the NCDHHS guidelines and based on those individuals who are at the highest risk of getting COVID-19.   Please note that Phase 1 is broken down further into sub-groups in order to make sure that essential health care workers and long-term staff are offered the vaccine first due to the increased risk of daily exposure to the virus.

Phase 1a:

• Health care workers that are at high risk for exposure based on work duties. (Review the Deeper Dive Phase 1a for additional information)
• Long term care staff in settings where most residents have multiple high-risk health conditions

Phase 1b:

• Assisted Living Staff
• Group Home Staff
• Home Caregivers
• Essential workers at high-risk exposure and who have multiple high-risk health conditions, i.e.workers in meat packing plants and migrant farm workers
• Adults in congregate settings with multiple high risk health conditions, i.e. incarcerated and homeless individuals
• Adults with multiple high-risk health conditions such as:

• Cancer
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• COPD
• Immunosuppressed from organ transplant(s)
• Obesity
• Serious Heart Disease
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Type 2 diabetes

Phase 2:

• Health care workers that are moderately exposed
• Residents in congregate settings, not in Phase 1
• Essential workers in industry and at a high risk of exposure
• Individuals 65+ years old with no or 1 chronic disease
• Teachers and school staff

Phase 3:

• Health care workers at moderate exposure
• Workers in industry and at increased risk of exposure, not included in Phases 1 and 2
• K-12, College students

Phase 4:

• All other healthcare workers, not included in Phases 1-3
• Remaining Population

*Please note that these phases could change at any time and individual health risks will be self-reported. No doctor’s notes will be needed to receive the vaccine. 

We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and support of public health during this time. We understand news of a vaccine is a welcome relief, but also can be a cause of anxiety as you wait to get more information or to be contacted to receive your vaccine. Every person will have a chance to be vaccinated, if they want to, at no cost to them. Getting vaccinated will help keep you, your family, and your community healthy and safe. At 95% efficacy, the vaccine is extraordinarily effective at protecting you from the virus. Rowan County Public Health is working diligently to ensure we are able to distribute COVID-19 vaccines in a timely manner.

Thank you for your role in keeping the community healthy. Please continue to practice the 3W’s – Wait six feet apart, Wash your hands, and Wear a mask, and continue to avoid the 3C’s – crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined/enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

###

Contact:
Alyssa Harris
704-216-8828
alyssa.harris@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - December 29, 2020 (PDF)