County-by-county guide: Here’s when, where you can get the COVID-19 vaccine

As coronavirus vaccines continue to be administered across the country, Channel 9 will provide the latest information on where you can access the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the North Carolina Health Department, the vaccine will be made available through vaccination groups. Currently, people in Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are eligible to get vaccinated.

On March 31, the state expanded eligibility to the rest of Group 4. Those included are students in congregate living settings, chemical workers, retail workers, hotel employees, construction workers, real estate agents, financial services workers, laundromat workers, plumbers, electricians and exterminators. Read full list here.

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

The rest of North Carolina ages 16 or older became eligible April 7.

NOTE: The FDA and CDC are calling for a halt to the use of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine. LEARN MORE HERE.

Group 1: Health care workers fighting COVID-19 and long-term care staff and residents (December 2020)

• Hospitals and local health departments are vaccinating health care workers caring for and working directly with patients with COVID-19 and those giving vaccines. In addition, the federal government is vaccinating long-term care residents and staff.

Group 2: Adults 65 years or older and frontline essential workers (early January)

• Anyone 65 years or older, regardless of health status or living situation.

Group 3: Frontline essential workers (late February, early March)

• The CDC defines frontline essential workers as workers who are in sectors essential to the functioning of society and who are at substantially higher risk for exposure to COVID-19.

Group 4: Adults at high risk for exposure and increased risk of severe illness (March 17-March 31)

• Anyone 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions that increase risk of severe disease from COVID-19 such as cancer, COPD, serious heart conditions, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes, among others, regardless of living situation
• Anyone who is incarcerated or living in other close group living settings who is not already vaccinated due to age, medical condition or job function
• Essential workers not yet vaccinated. (The CDC defines these as workers in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater, food service, shelter and housing (e.g., construction), finance (e.g., bank tellers), information technology and communications, energy, legal, media, public safety (e.g., engineers) and public health workers).

Group 5: Everyone who wants a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination (April 7)

Learn more about North Carolina’s plan for vaccine prioritization and distribution at NC DHHS COVID-19: Vaccines or view this Infographic of Vaccine Phases.

[READ: Mecklenburg County’s vaccine information page]

All vaccine providers are expected to ensure that vaccine is administered equitably within each group.

The NCDHHS has a specific focus on building trust with historically marginalized populations. Longstanding and continuing racial and ethnic injustices in our health care system contribute to lack of trust in vaccines.

The department is partnering with trusted leaders and organizations to provide accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines to all North Carolinians and ensure equitable access to vaccines.

>> Have questions about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Carolinas? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak -- CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the NC Department of Health and Human Services announced on Jan. 22 that approximately $2.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funding is being distributed to local transit agencies across the state to help pay for rides for individuals who need transportation assistance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Click here to learn more.

Residents can also use the newly expanded COVID-19 vaccine help center at 888-675-4567 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

You can get help with general vaccine questions, information about eligibility groups or how to find a vaccine location and transportation service. The help center supports English and Spanish calls.

NCDHHS also launched the Find a Vaccine Location and Find My Vaccine Group tools to help residents better navigate changes to eligibility and find locations near you.

Starting March 13, CVS Health began offering vaccines in nearly 1,200 stores across 29 states, including North Carolina and South Carolina. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app.

Anyone without online access can call 800-746-7287. Walk-in vaccinations without an appointment will not be provided.

If you are scheduling your COVID-19 vaccine appointment through Walgreens, a corporate spokesperson said the company will automatically schedule the second dose to occur a minimum of 28 days following their first dose.

Walgreens said pharmacists have been instructed to educate patients receiving Pfizer vaccines that the 28-day interval is appropriate based on CDC guidelines. Patients have the option to work directly with their pharmacist to reschedule their second dose earlier based on appointment availability.

__________

WALGREENS STATEMENT:

“In many states, our stores carry COVID-19 vaccines from multiple manufacturers simultaneously, as determined by federal and state allocation. The CDC states that second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 42 days after the first dose, but no earlier than the recommended interval of 21 and 28 days respectively. We are automatically scheduling patients’ second doses to occur a minimum of 28 days following their first dose to ensure that no dose is administered earlier than the authorized intervals and patients are able to complete the series vaccination.

At this time, our pharmacists have been instructed to proactively educate patients receiving Pfizer vaccines that the 28-day interval is appropriate based on CDC guidelines. Patients have the option to work directly with their pharmacist to reschedule their second dose earlier based on appointment availability.”

__________

Need a COVID-19 vaccine appointment? Here are some quick links to help schedule yours:

• Walgreens
• CVS
• Novant Health
• Atrium Health

Below is a list of local counties that have released their COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan:

Alexander County:

(Updated: April 13) Effective April 7, everyone age 16 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. Only the Pfizer vaccine is available to those age 16 and 17. To schedule your vaccination with the health department, click here or call (828) 352-7724.

If your work hours have kept you from getting the COVID-19 vaccination, Peoples Drug Store is scheduling appointments for Thursday, April 8 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Call the pharmacy at (828) 632-2271 to schedule your appointment.

Anson County:

(Updated: April 13) The Anson County Health Department is vaccinating individuals in Group 4, which means adults at high risk for exposure and increased risk of severe illness. They are also still vaccinating healthcare workers, those 65 and older, school and daycare staff and essential workers.

Health officials said in order to facilitate the scheduling process, they will be distributing a registration and health questionnaire within the county.

After completing the form, please return it to the Anson County Health Department:

Mail: PO Box 473 Wadesboro, North Carolina 28170

Fax: 704-694-9067

Email: covidregistration@co.anson.nc.us

You can also drop it off in the drop box located outside the front entrance. After the form is returned, residents will be listed for the vaccine and called to be scheduled for a vaccination.

As supplies become available and a new phase is launched, AppHealthCare will reach out to schedule more people for their shot. Everyone will have an opportunity to get their shot.

For more information, click here.

Avery County:

(Updated: March 16)

Burke County:

(Updated: April 13) The COVID-19 vaccine is now being offered to all adults in Burke County. Please see the flyer below for more information on two upcoming clinics.

You can schedule your appointment by calling 828-358-4454 Monday through Wednesday or schedule online anytime by clicking here.

Cabarrus County:

(Updated: April 13) Cabarrus Health Alliance’s COVID-19 staff are actively vaccinating individuals who fall within the Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5, including individuals 16 and older.

If you are seeking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for a 16 or 17-year-old, please call the CHA Call Center at 704-920-1213.

Appointments to get the vaccine can be scheduled online here. All clinics will be by appointment only.

• To schedule an appointment visit, cabarrushealth.org/vaccineclinics
• Select your appointment date and then click the ‘Schedule Appointment’ link in the table
• Complete one appointment form per patient
• Write down your appointment information: date, time
• Please bring all required documents with you, visit cabarrushealth.org/covidvax to review required materials

If individuals arrive more than 30 minutes prior to their appointment, they will be asked to return closer to their appointment time. Any person without an appointment will be turned away and asked to make an appointment.

Second Dose Appointments:

CHA opened second dose appointments on Jan. 18. Individuals who have already received their first dose, were given a ‘COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card’. The date on the back of that card is NOT an appointment, it is the first day the patient is eligible to receive their second dose:

• Pfizer second dose can be administered as early as 21 days after the first dose

• Moderna second dose can be administered as early as 28 days after the first dose

Health officials are asking individuals who received their first dose to monitor the COVID-19 Vaccine website for clinic dates that are on or after the date listed on the back of their ‘COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.’

Walgreens locations in Concord, Kannapolis and Harrisburg will begin administering doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine starting Feb. 12. CLICK HERE for more information.

Fake Email About Vaccines

On Jan. 22 the Cabarrus Health Alliance was made aware of a fake email that was circulating. The email claimed to be from CHA and had information for those on the COVID-19 wait list. The email contained a link to a video with unfounded and false claims about vaccines.

The email, which was made to look like it came from CHA, was from “cabarrushealthalliancenc@yahoo.com.” The email’s subject line read: “COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist Sign-Up *NEW UPDATE*”

Caldwell County:

(Updated: April 13) The COVID-19 vaccine is now being offered to all adults in Caldwell County.

Health officials said eight locations in Caldwell County now offer the vaccine.

Vaccination sites now include: Caldwell County Health Department, Caldwell UNC Health Care, Ingles Pharmacy, Medical Arts Pharmacy, Walgreens Hudson, Walgreens Lenoir, Walmart Lenoir, and Walmart Neighborhood Market in Hudson.

To schedule a vaccine appointment, call the Caldwell County Health Department at 828-426-8486 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information about appointments at other locations, visit vaccinefinder.org or myspot.nc.gov.

Caldwell County runs out of vaccines Thursday

Catawba County:

(Updated: April 6) People looking to get the COVID-19 vaccine can schedule appointments online through a new Catawba County website -- catawbavaccine.org.

The site allows eligible recipients to request appointments and complete the state-required pre-registration online.

By signing up for an appointment online, you do not have to call for an appointment. After your registration goes through, you will be called by an appointment specialist to schedule an appointment.

Due to the continued heavy demand for appointments and limited vaccine supply, appointments requested both online and by phone are currently being scheduled several weeks out from the time a person connects with an appointment specialist.

If you miss the call from the appointment specialist, they will call back two more times before an appointment request has to be resubmitted online.

After registering online, an email is sent with a link to the state vaccine registration website to complete pre-registration and verify that they are eligible.

Appointments are also available by calling the Catawba County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment line at 828-695-6650, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF

Catawba County Public Health and its vaccination partners, Catawba Valley Health System and Frye Regional Medical Center, will be coordinating vaccinations for Group 3 directly with employers.

To determine your eligibility for Group 3, click here.

To begin the registration process, an official representative for your organization (Human Resources, Administration, etc.) should do the following:

• Review this guide on the registration steps
• Complete the Organizational Sign Up Form here or in the guiding document; if you are unable to access the Organizational Sign Up, please reply to this email
• Questions asked through the form will receive a response from a scheduling specialist
• Within 2 weeks of completing the form, organizations can expect to have a designated contact person (a case manager) assist them with the rest of the registration and scheduling process

FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS

For Group 3 employers and their frontline essential workers in Catawba County, health officials are working directly with employers to coordinate group scheduling for those who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Starting at 2 p.m. March 3, local employers may go to here to access more information and get the process started.

• Frontline essential workers for companies located in Catawba County should first talk with their employer before requesting an individual appointment. We have already started working with many employers and anticipate working with many more over the next few weeks. Due to the extremely high demand for vaccinations and limited vaccine supply, scheduling your appointment through your employer will be the quickest way to get an appointment with us.
• Independent contractors or people who are self-employed and believe they are part of Group 3 (frontline essential workers) may request an appointment online at www.CatawbaVaccine.org, where an eligibility determination will be made.

INDIVIDUALS

As the state’s vaccine rollout plan opens up to everyone over age 16 on April 7, Catawba County Public Health, Catawba Valley Health System and Frye Regional Medical Center will continue to provide a joint vaccination appointment request process through www.CatawbaVaccine.org. Due to limited vaccine supply and high demand for vaccination appointments, individuals who request appointments through www.CatawbaVaccine.org should expect to wait a few weeks before appointments become available.

When an appointment becomes available, individuals who have sent in a request through www.catawbavaccine.org will be contacted by a scheduler to coordinate their appointment location, date and time.

No appointments will be made by phone. Individuals without internet access may call the COVID-19 Referral Line at 828-282-2002, to reach a referral specialist who can assist individuals with completing the online appointment request form.

Several other providers in Catawba County are offering vaccinations and can be found at https://myspot.nc.gov/.

Vaccinations are particularly important for people who have underlying medical conditions, which can increase the risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. Nearly all Catawba County residents who have died from COVID had at least one chronic condition and/or were over age 65.

Cleveland County:

(Updated: April 13) The Cleveland County Health Department is now scheduling first dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments for everyone 16 and older who wants a safe and effective vaccine. Individuals under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present to receive the vaccine. To schedule an appointment, call the Cleveland County COVID Vaccine Appointment Line at 980-484-6019.

Residents may also utilize an online form to be added to the Cleveland County Public Health Center’s database to be notified when an appointment is available based on the number of vaccines received each week.

Completing the registration form does not mean you have a scheduled appointment - individuals will receive an e-mail or phone call to schedule an appointment in order of receipt of their registration form.

Click here to access the form.

In addition to using the form, the health department will continue to open its COVID Vaccine Appointment Line (980-484-6019) on Friday afternoons beginning at 1 p.m. to schedule appointments for individuals who do not have the ability to complete the online form.

A combination of the online registration forms and appointments scheduled through the phone line will be used to fill each week’s available appointments based on the number of vaccines available.

If you submit your information through the registration form and would like to later be removed from the list, please call the COVID Helpline at 980-484-5316 to ask to be removed from our list.

Gaston County:

(Updated: April 13) Gaston County is hosting large-scale vaccination clinics on Fridays at Eastridge Mall.

Vaccination clinics continue to be by appointment only for Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to manage the flow of traffic and allow for as smooth a process as possible.

Gaston County is continuing to register individuals both through its hotline, 704-866-3170, and at GastonSaves.com/covid19vaccine. Residents can also sign up for email alerts at that same website.

County employees will continue to staff their hotline during the week starting at 8 a.m. and will be available each day until 5 p.m.

Gaston officials say they will be adding vaccination days on Wednesdays in addition to Fridays, as it will soon be providing the first shot to hundreds of residents at a time and also the second round of vaccine to complete the process.

Gastonia vaccinations move to Eastridge Mall Friday

Officials say they are also working closely with partners at CaroMont Health and Kintegra Health to maximize opportunities to get members of the community vaccinated.

The county continues to use all the vaccine provided by the state each week. The county is working behind the scenes with local schools and healthcare providers to devise the best possible plan for vaccinating teachers, school employees and childcare workers while also getting shots for those who are already in line.

The speed at which Gaston County can get vaccines into the arms of its residents depends in very large part at the amount of vaccine allocated each week by the state.

The Gaston County Saves webpage will contain updates on where Gaston County stands on the vaccination group schedule. Pre-registration is also available here. The the county is contacting residents who have registered here when new appointments become available.

Iredell County:

People line up to get vaccine in Iredell County

(Updated: April 13) Iredell County Health Department COVID-19 staff are actively vaccinating individuals who fall within the Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5.

Online vaccine appointment scheduling is now available and you can click here to make your appointment.

Before you arrive at your appointment, health officials encourage you to print and bring your completed 1st Dose Registration Form with you.

The Health Department will be administering COVID-19 vaccines on select dates at Mazeppa Park and Hebron Baptist Church.

Teachers and education support staff became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Iredell County on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

The Iredell Health System will be working directly with each school district or school if it is not associated with one of the two districts in the county to ensure employees can be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Appointments are required and school employees should reach out to their school leadership about how to schedule their appointments. Each school will handle scheduling the appointment and the Iredell Health System will handle the vaccine portion.

For more information about vaccines in Iredell County, check the health department website for updates.

Lincoln County:

(Updated: April 13) - The Lincoln County Health Department is actively vaccinating individuals who fall within the Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5.

The health department will use an online appointment system for the Thursday and Friday slots for the appointments each week. Health officials said they will evaluate the online system for ease of use over the next several weeks to determine if it allows for better service to people seeking appointments at the health department.

Anyone with an appointment will be asked to bring in a print out of their appointment confirmation or proper identification. For people in the eligible priority that do not have the means for online scheduling, the health department will reserve an allocation that can be made by phone at 704-736-8509.

Click here to find the appointment link. The vaccines will be available at the Health Department located at 200 Gamble Dr., Lincolnton, NC 28092

The Lincoln County Health Department has activated a COVID-19 CALL CENTER at (704) 479-2206. The call center will follow a weekly schedule of 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For updates go to lincolncounty.org and look under the tab for COVID-19 Vaccination Information or click here.

Mecklenburg County:

(Updated: April 20) The Mecklenburg County Health Department is closing Bojangles Coliseum for vaccine appointments on May 22.

The county is launching a partnership with Action NC for grassroots canvassing about vaccine availability and information.

Health Director Gibbie Harris said the county is looking to partner with local bars and breweries to serve as COVID-19 vaccine sites.

Mecklenburg County Public Health is following North Carolina’s Vaccine Distribution Plan and vaccinating residents by appointment. The vaccination clinic at Bojangles Coliseum at 2700 East Independence Blvd will now accept walk-in vaccinations as well as appointments.

The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Wednesdays 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Groups 1-5 can schedule appointments; On April 7, MCPH began opening new appointments weekly on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. for appointments for the following week.

Individuals in Groups 1 and 3 living or working in Mecklenburg County, Group 2 County residents 65 years and older, and all residents in Group 4 and Group 5 may make a first dose appointment here or by calling MCPH COVID-19 Hotline at 980-314-9400 (Option 3 for English and Option 8 for Spanish).

MCPH continues to encourage everyone to make only one vaccine appointment. If you secure multiple appointments, please cancel any appointment you will not attend so that another eligible individual may use that appointment. To cancel appointments made at MCPH clinics or for additional questions, call the MCPH COVID-19 Hotline at 980-314-9400 (Option 3 for English and Option 8 for Spanish).

If no appointments are available, eligible individuals may join the waitlist here.

Eligible members may also make a first dose appointment online here or here. Please read the appointment instructions carefully.

If transportation is needed for the vaccination appointment, contact the Mecklenburg County Transportation System at 980-314-7600.

As previously announced, MCPH will be administering the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at this clinic due to the recommended pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Second dose appointments will be scheduled at the first dose appointments.

About the Mecklenburg County Vaccination Plan

The Mecklenburg County Vaccination Plan aligns with Federal and State recommendations and follows current guidelines. Because vaccine supplies are 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: Residents16-64 years old with one or more of the below high-risk medical conditions for severe disease from COVID-19, people living in close group settings, specifically shelters and detention centers and essential workers not yet vaccinated and currently working in one of the essential sectors outlined below.

High Risk Medical Conditions:

· 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

Essential Sectors:

· Chemical (including workers in petrochemical plants, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceutical facilities, consumer products)

· Commercial facilities (including retail workers, hotel workers)

· Communications and information technology (service repair dispatchers, data center operators)

· Construction, residential facilities, housing and real estate

· Defense industrial base (including workers supporting essential services to meet national security commitments)

· Energy (including electric, petroleum, natural and propane gas workers)

· Financial services (including workers who maintain systems for processing financial transactions, workers needed to provide consumer access to banking and lending services)

· Hazardous materials (including nuclear facilities workers, workers managing medical waste)

· Hygiene products and services (including laundromats, sanitation workers)

· Public works and infrastructure support services (including plumbers, electricians, exterminators, workers supporting parks)

· Water and wastewater (including staff at water authorities, wastewater treatment facilities, water sampling and monitoring)

Group 5: Starting April 7, everyone who wants a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination is eligible to make an appointment.

___________________________________________

On Feb. 15, Mecklenburg County launched a website allowing community groups and organizations to request to co-host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

It is part of a broader effort to ensure an equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines specifically among low-income, racial-ethnic minority, immigrant, refugee, homeless and other vulnerable populations. The county will prioritize requests with a focus on communities and populations that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Facilities must have space for preparation and administration of vaccines while following social distancing guidelines.

Click here to submit a request.

___________________________________________

Second dose appointments are available for individuals who received their first dose from Mecklenburg County Public Health. The county is partnering with StarMed Healthcare to provide second doses of the COVID vaccine ONLY to individuals who received their first dose from MCPH. If you have already scheduled your second dose through Public Health, you do not need to schedule an appointment through StarMed.

To make an appointment for your second dose, click here for StarMed Healthcare’s appointment page.

Second dose appointments are also located at Bojangles Coliseum.

___________________________________________

Atrium Health also offered second dose appointments through two mass vaccination clinics. The first was Feb. 12-14 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This clinic was for those who received their first vaccine at the Jan. 22-24 speedway event.

The second event was held at Bank of America Stadium Feb. 26-28.

You can find the latest information on Atrium’s vaccination events by clicking here.

[Mecklenburg County COVID vaccine distribution prioritization framework for health care workers in Phase 1A and Phase 1B]

Charlotte Area Transit System is providing direct bus service to Bojangles Coliseum for community members to access their scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointments. CATS will provide two direct bus routes; one from the Charlotte Transportation Center (CTC) and one from Eastland Community Transit Center.

Service will operate Monday through Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m. Each day, the last direct trip to Bojangles Coliseum will depart the transit centers at 4:30 p.m.

At the CTC, riders should board in Bay K. At Eastland, riders should locate the same bus bay as Route 221. Buses providing service to the vaccine center will have a corresponding headway sign. The local bus fare of $2.20 will be required.

Both routes will serve two bus stop locations at Bojangles Coliseum. Upon arrival, passengers should deboard the vehicle at the appropriate bus stop.

• Stop 1: Passengers receiving their first vaccine shot
• Stop 2: Passengers receiving their second vaccine shot

For questions or concerns, community members can speak to CATS Customer Service at 704-336-7433(RIDE).

Rowan County:

(Updated: April 26) Rowan County Public Health will no longer offer 1st Dose COVID mass vaccinations beginning this week. Due to the drastic drop in the number of individuals getting their COVID vaccine, the mass vaccination site will no longer be offered at the West End Plaza (WEP) for first-time vaccines.

Please note, however, that 2nd Dose Vaccination Clinics will still be offered at the WEP on April 28th, May 5th, and May 12th. This is so we can complete the two-shot series for everyone that has already received their first Pfizer vaccine from our agency. With that said, it is with the utmost importance that if you still need to receive your 2nd dose that you make sure to make an appointment by calling 980-432-1800; Option 1 or use the QR Code that was given to you at your first vaccination appointment, no later than May 11th.

If you still have not received your COVID Vaccine and you are interested in doing so, please visit the CDC’s vaccine finder. Here you will find a number of local agencies/businesses that are offering COVID vaccines in Rowan County, such as:

• Novant Health at the J. F. Hurley YMCA; Walk-ins are accepted M-F 8 am – 5 pm
• Larger chain pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens
• Grocery Stores: Walmart, Food Lion (Salisbury and China Grove), Sam’s Club
• Local pharmacies: Moose Pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe, Country Pharmacy (Rockwell – currently out of stock, but expected to restock soon), Price Pharmacy, and Cannon Pharmacy
• Provider offices: Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, Cleveland Wellness Clinic

Residents can reach out to their primary care providers for a referral to Novant Health’s vaccination clinic effort, or log into your MyChart account HERE.

They also sign up through Atrium Health by clicking HERE.

Atrium does not require people to be patients and officials there say no one is going to ask or pressure them to change providers.

For more information on upcoming clinics and appointments, go to click here.

___________________________________________

Rowan County Public Health and Rowan County Emergency Service Partner to Offer COVID-19 Vaccinations to Our Homebound Citizens

The purpose of this service is to reach underserved and vulnerable populations within Rowan County that cannot attend a COVID-19 vaccination clinic due to their homebound status, but are still at a higher risk for exposure and poor health outcomes due to COVID-19. This service is for any individual who cannot physically leave their home and is not intended as a service for an individual who does not have a reliable mode of transportation or no transportation at all.

To qualify for this service, an individual must fall under ALL the following eligibility guidelines:

• You are a Rowan County resident

• You are considered being Homebound by Medicare (please see the definition below)

• You are willing to certify that you are homebound and it is not that you do not have a reliable mode of transportation or no transportation at all that would allow you to attend a drive-thru vaccine clinic

Individuals may or may not be on Medicare, but must meet the definition of “Homebound by Medicare,” which includes having a condition such that leaving his or her home is medically contraindicated, there must exists a normal inability to leave home, and leaving home must require a considerable and taxing effort.

Examples: a patient who is blind or senile and requires the assistance of another person in leaving their place of residence, a patient who has just returned from a hospital stay, involving surgery; therefore, their actions may be restricted by their physician to certain specified and limited activities such as getting out of bed only once a day; or a patient with a psychiatric illness that is manifested, in part, by a refusal to leave home or is of such nature that it would not be considered safe for the patient to leave. (https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/NPC/Downloads/2014-12-16-HHBenefit-HL.pdf)

To get more information and to see if you qualify for this service, please contact 980-432-1800; Option 1 and let the Call Center staff know that you are interested in Homebound COVID-19 Vaccine Service.

Stanly County:

(Updated: April 13) The Stanly County Health Department is actively vaccinating individuals who fall within the Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 980-323-0205

To book your appointment, click here.

For more information, check the health department website for updates.

Union County:

(Updated: April 13) Union County Public Health is following the plan and guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccines are very limited.

The Union County Health Department is actively vaccinating individuals who fall within the Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5.

There are several locations in Union County offering the COVID-19 vaccine including Atrium Health, Union County Public Health and select pharmacies. Appointment availability often varies; health officials encourage residents to check periodically for updates. If you have problems scheduling online, please call the COVID-19 hotline (704.292.2550) Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Click here to find a provider or location near you.

Teachers and educational support staff became eligible for the vaccine starting Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Health officials said they will be reaching out to individual organizations to schedule appointments as vaccine supply is available.

Watauga County:

(Updated: April 16): The Watauga County Health Department is currently vaccinating individuals who fall within the Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5.

If you would like a COVID-19 vaccine, you can either schedule an appointment online or you can call the Call Center at (828) 795-1970. Vaccine appointments will be added to health department website as they are available based on vaccine supply so continue to check back regularly for additional appointments to be added.

For individuals who are 16 or 17 years old, the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in this age range. The health department does not get regular shipments of Pfizer but are able to keep a list of those who are interested. When they receive a shipment of Pfizer, they will reach out to the individuals on the list to schedule their appointment. If you would like to be on this list, email vaccineschedule@apphealth.com or call (828) 795-1970.

On March 3, Group 3 was expanded and all frontline essential workers became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Frontline essential workers are those who work in person and are included in the eight sectors outlined by NCDHHS.

Frontline essential workers can signup through the online vaccine interest form or expect an invitation or schedule an appointment through their employer. If you have specific questions, please contact your employer or contact App Health at (828) 795-1970 or preparedness@apphealth.com.

Watauga High School will hold a vaccine clinic for students and parents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 in the high school gym. The clinic will offer vaccinations to all Watauga High School students ages 16 and older and their parents.

Held in partnership with AppHealthCare and Boone Drug, the clinic will offer doses of the Pfizer vaccine — currently the only shot approved for people ages 16-17. Parents and students who are interested in receiving a vaccine may sign up through the Boone Drug website at www.boonedrug.com/covid-vaccine.

For more about the COVID-19 vaccine in Watauga County, click here.

Mecklenburg County health department vaccinates health care workers at Bojangles Coliseum

Here’s the vaccination plan for South Carolina

(Updated Mar. 3) The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said doses of the vaccine will be made available through phases.

• Phase 1a (Currently Ongoing) -- Vaccinations for Phase 1a are anticipated to continue to February 2021. Phase 1a includes: Residents and staff of long-term care facilities; Healthcare personnel, with an initial focus on healthcare workers critical to the mission of preventing death; Admitted hospital patients, who are aged 65 years and older, as long as they do not currently have COVID-19 and a provider feels it is indicated for them; Anyone 65 years and older, regardless of health status or preexisting conditions; State/local government employees and their contractors who are mission-critical for maintaining operations of COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in SC. For a complete list of those currently considered in Phase 1a, click here.
• Phase 1b (Currently Ongoing) -- People age 55 and older, people aged 16-54 with certain underlying health conditions that puts them at high risk for severe disease (list by CDC); Frontline essential workers (sectors included by ACIP: firefighters, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, USPS workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the educational sector—teachers, support staff, and daycare workers). For a complete list of those currently considered in Phase 1b, click here.
• Phase 1c (Currently Ongoing) -- People age 45 and older, other essential workers (examples included by ACIP: people who work in transportation and logistics, food service, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety, and public health staff who are non-frontline healthcare workers).
• Phase 2 (Currently Ongoing) -- All people who wish to be vaccinated Ages per recommendations by ACIP.

• Those 65 and older can schedule appointments to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at locations currently accepting vaccine appointments.
• DHEC’s online map shows the locations currently accepting appointments for COVID-19 vaccine and the contact information for scheduling appointments at those locations. The map itself is not a way to schedule an appointment.
• People can also call DHEC’s Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for assistance in locating contact information for making an appointment. The Care Line can’t schedule an appointment but can help provide the phone numbers of locations offering vaccine appointments. The Care Line also assists people with general questions about COVID-19, testing and scheduling an appointment for other health department services.
• People can call DHEC’s Vaccine Information Line at 1-866-365-8110 for questions about COVID-19 vaccines or those who need help finding vaccine providers and their contact information.
• Appointments should be scheduled; walk-ins may not be able to receive vaccine.
• You will be asked to provide a driver’s license or other form of ID at your appointment that confirms your age in order to receive vaccine.
• South Carolina residency is not a requirement to receive a vaccine.
• The appointment scheduling phone line for each location may operate different hours of the day. This isn’t determined by DHEC.
• South Carolina, like all states, currently has a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine. Some locations that offer vaccine may not have an appointment available for several weeks, depending on their vaccine supply. Facilities receive doses of vaccine each week from the federal government.
• Individuals are encouraged to schedule their second shot as soon as they can. It’s important that individuals receive both doses of the same brand of vaccine to ensure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For the latest COVID-19 vaccine updates and information, visit scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.

Publix has opened an online reservation system to schedule appointments at 60 different store locations in South Carolina including Lancaster and York Counties.

• York County - 2186 Cherry Road, Suite 101, Rock Hill
• Lancaster County - 8360 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land

Vaccinations will be given by appointment only while supplies last. Additional appointments will be announced as Publix receives more inventory.

Appointments cannot be made by phone. To schedule an appointment with Publix, you can click HERE.

York County:

(Updated April 19) The Rock Hill Piedmont Community Vaccination Clinic will move operations to the City of Rock Hill Operations Center, 757 S. Anderson Road, Rock Hill, effective Tuesday, May 18. The last day shots will be administered at the Galleria Mall location is Friday, May 14.

The Rock Hill Piedmont Community Vaccination Clinic will utilize space in the Administration Building of the City Operations Center. The clinic will operate Tuesdays through Fridays, with appointment times 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Volunteers will no longer be needed to sustain clinic operations after May 14.

First dose appointments at the Operations Center site will be available by logging into the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) during the week of May 3 for the following week. To request a VAMS account, complete the Piedmont Medical Center vaccine request form. Appointments for second doses will be made at the time the first shot is given.

People who need assistance creating an account and making an appointment can call 803-980-2684. After May 14, live agents won’t be available to answer, so we ask callers to leave a message for their call to be returned within two clinic business days.

The Rock Hill Piedmont Community Vaccination Clinic, in cooperation with DHEC and Piedmont Medical Center, opened on Friday, Jan. 22 in the space formerly occupied by Home South/Goody’s at the Galleria Mall. As of Friday, April 16, more than 40,000 shots were administered during that time.

Walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations are not currently available at Doctors Care Rock Hill, 2174 Cherry Road, Rock Hill. Patients who meet the current qualification criteria must be registered through the CDC using the Vaccination Administration Management System (VAMS) to be eligible to receive the vaccine at any participating location. Vaccination availability will be consistent with the prioritization schedule put out by SC DHEC and the CDC.

For more information go to doctorscare.com.

This location is currently not accepting appointments: Piedmont Medical Center, 222 South Herlong Avenue, Rock Hill

A limited number of vaccines are available while supplies last at select Publix pharmacies in several South Carolina counties, including Landing Station in York, by appointment only.

Eligible customers can access vaccine appointment availability online here. Vaccination appointments are scheduled online only and cannot be made by calling Publix or the Publix Pharmacy.

Chester County:

(Updated Mar. 3) Phase 1a and those 70 and older

MUSC Health - Chester Hospital, 1 Medical Park Drive, Chester

MUSC Health is currently unable to schedule new COVID-19 vaccine appointments. This is temporary and based on vaccine supply issues. They will reopen scheduling as soon as more vaccine is available to MUSC Health. More information on vaccine availability.

If you have a confirmed vaccine appointment with MUSC Health, your appointment is still scheduled to happen. MUSC-Health will contact you directly if we need to reschedule your appointment. If you have an existing vaccine appointment and have questions, please call the vaccine hotline at 843-876-7227.

For more information go to muschealth.org/vaccine-1a.

Lancaster County:

(Updated Mar. 3) This location is currently not accepting appointments: Doctors Care Indian Land, 8384 Charlotte Hwy, Indian Land

Phase 1a and those 70 and older

MUSC Health - Lancaster Hospital, 800 West Meeting St, Lancaster

MUSC Health is currently unable to schedule new COVID-19 vaccine appointments. This is temporary and based on vaccine supply issues. They will reopen scheduling as soon as more vaccine is available to MUSC Health. More information on vaccine availability.

If you have a confirmed vaccine appointment with MUSC Health, your appointment is still scheduled to happen. MUSC-Health will contact you directly if we need to reschedule your appointment. If you have an existing vaccine appointment and have questions, please call the vaccine hotline at 843-876-7227.

For more information go to muschealth.org/vaccine-1a.

___________________________________

A limited number of vaccines are available while supplies last at select Publix pharmacies in several South Carolina counties, including the Cross Creek location in Indian Land, by appointment only.

Eligible customers can access vaccine appointment availability online here. Vaccination appointments are scheduled online only and cannot be made by calling Publix or the Publix Pharmacy.

For more information, click here.

Chesterfield County:

(Updated Mar. 22) This location is currently not accepting appointments: McLeod Cheraw, 711 Chesterfield Hwy, Cheraw

Find vaccine provider locations by using scdhec.gov/vaxlocator to see locations accepting appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. Pick a location and call the phone number listed to make an appointment. The map itself is not a way to schedule an appointment.

Calling DHEC’s Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for help finding contact information you need to make an appointment. The Care Line can’t schedule an appointment but can give you phone numbers for locations you can call to make an appointment.

PAGELAND

Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center is again partnering with Pageland leaders Tuesday, March 23 to host a pop-up vaccine clinic at the Pageland Community Center, 1113 W. McGregor Street, Pageland. The event will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There are no appointments necessary and no wait times. This event is open to individuals in Phase 1A and 1B of South Carolina DHEC’s vaccine plan.

For more information on who is included in Phase 1A and 1B, click here.

Meck County vaccination appointments filled through first 3 weeks of February

Cox Media Group