Many in Group 4 now eligible to get COVID-19 vaccine in NC

CHARLOTTE — North Carolina is ahead of schedule, opening up the COVID-19 vaccine early to even more people.

The state expanded eligibility to some members of Group 4 that started on Wednesday -- one week earlier than expected. North Carolinians with chronic conditions and those living in congregate settings will now join the ranks of those eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The CDC released a report that puts North Carolina in the top ten states in the nation for equitable vaccine distribution.

Those included in the first part of Group 4 are people ages 16 and over with at least one underlying medical condition and residents in some congregate living settings like shelters and jails.

The rest of Group 4, which includes essential workers not yet vaccinated will become eligible April 7.

Group 4 includes anyone with conditions that have been identified by the CDC as increasing risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

• Asthma (moderate to severe)
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease or history of stroke
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dementia or other neurologic condition
• Diabetes type 1 or 2
• Down Syndrome
• A heart condition such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from: immune deficiencies, HIV, taking chronic steroids or other immune weakening medicines, history of solid organ blood or bone marrow transplant
• Liver disease, including hepatitis
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Overweight or obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease (not including sickle cell trait) or thalassemia
• Smoking (current or former, defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime)

People with underlying medical issues will not be required to display proof of their condition. An honor system will be in place.

People with underlying health conditions are encouraged to talk to their doctor or medical provider about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

As with previous eligibility changes, the state said some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to Group 4 on March 17 if they are still experiencing high demand for vaccines in Groups 1 through 3.

Earlier this month, the state also exceeded expectations and opened vaccinations to all frontline essential workers a week earlier than expected on March 3.

Group 5 -- which includes everybody else -- still does not have a starting date. However, Gov. Cooper announced Wednesday that state health leaders are prepared to open vaccine eligibility to all North Carolinians by May 1, which is the date President Joe Biden has said the vaccine should be available for everybody.

Woman says she is struggling to get 2nd shot of vaccine

Meck County fills all additional COVID-19 vaccine appointments in one hour

Mecklenburg County opened additional vaccine appointment slots Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

By 9:30 a.m., they were all filled.

The appointments are from March 17 to 31 at Bojangles Coliseum. People could register for the shots online or by calling 980-314-9400 and selecting option 3. For more information, click here.

Health Director Gibbie Harris is asking people to cancel their Mecklenburg County COVID-19 vaccine appointments if they no longer need them. Harris told county commissioners Tuesday night that people are finding appointments that are sooner than the ones they scheduled with Mecklenburg County, and they are forgetting to cancel their county shots. When that happens, the county calls people on the waitlist to make sure no vaccine is wasted.

According to Harris, the county is continuing to partner with local providers, including community pharmacies, to distribute the vaccine. The health director said they are talking to Publix about possibly administering shots. Once the county gets more Johnson & Johnson doses, the county will go directly to the homes of seniors who are unable to travel for a shot. Commissioner Vilma Leake said that service is crucially needed because there are a number of seniors who cannot get to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

[Need a vaccine appointment? Channel 9′s Joe Bruno tracks open slots]

“People get confused when we talk about our seniors,” Leake said. “Many of them are not technically literate. So we have to take care of everybody.”

Harris said the county is expecting new guidance from the CDC in the next few weeks, which could ease social distance recommendations from 6 feet to 3. Officials said that would have a huge impact on schools and businesses.

“If bar or restaurant can only do 50% capacity because we are looking for 6 feet distance, it is substantially different if we only have to do 3 feet,” Chair George Dunlap said. “It increases the chance of getting back to normalcy for business operations.”

[PAST COVERAGE: Cooper says some in Group 4 can get COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week]

Harris said if metrics continue to decline, she expects Gov. Roy Cooper will open up the state more at the end of the month.

Can’t make your vaccine appointment? Be sure to cancel ahead of time

About the Mecklenburg County Vaccination Plan

The Mecklenburg County Vaccination Plan aligns with current Federal and State recommendations and follows current guidelines. Because vaccine supplies are currently limited, vaccine distribution is being rolled out in Groups.

Groups currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine include:

Group 1: Health care workers fighting COVID-19 & Long-Term Care staff and residents—people in skilled nursing facilities, adult care homes and continuing care retirement communities); and

Group 2: Anyone 65 years or older regardless of health status or living situation; and

Group 3: Frontline essential workers who are required to be on-site for work:

• Critical manufacturing
• Education and childcare
• Essential goods
• Food and agriculture
• Government and community services
• Healthcare and public health
• Public safety
• Transportation

Group 4: North Carolina announced that residents16-64 years old with one or more of the below high-risk medical conditions for severe disease from COVID-19 and people living in close group settings, specifically shelters and detention centers, will be eligible for vaccination beginning March 17. The remainder of Group 4 will be eligible beginning April 7.

• Asthma (moderate to severe)
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease or history of stroke
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes type 1 or 2
• A heart condition such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, including Down Syndrome
• Liver disease, including hepatitis
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia and schizophrenia
• Pregnancy
• Overweight or obesity
• Sickle cell disease (not including sickle cell trait) or thalassemia
• Smoking (current or former, defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from: immune deficiencies, HIV, taking chronic steroids or other immune weakening medicines, history of solid organ blood or bone marrow transplant

More information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available at www.MeckNC.gov/COVID-19 or by calling the Public Health COVID-19 hotline at 980-314-9400.

Cox Media Group