Come for a beer, stay for a shot: Local brewery to serve as vaccine clinic

CHARLOTTE — There will be a vaccine clinic held Thursday at NoDa Brewing Company, where 200 Pfizer doses will be administered.

The clinic at the brewery on North Tryon Street will start at 6 p.m. and every person who gets a shot will receive a voucher for a pint of beer.

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.

On Wednesday night, COVID-19 vaccines were being given out at Brewers at 4001 Yancey in lower South End. NoDa Brewing believes these event will help bridge the gap for those who still need to get vaccinated.

“While we have not spoken with the county directly yet, we have spoken with other community partners,” NoDa Brewing General Manager Jamaar Valentine said. “The larger, Atrium Health, certainly looking forward to working with us to make sure this initiative can really grow.”

Valentine said last week, VaxClinic offered 200 doses at its Taphouse. He

believes these efforts will bridge the gap for those who still need to be vaccinated.

“We want it to be convenient for people with people with many of the other appointments people had to make over the last months,” Valentine said. “They had to schedule time around their work day, their school day. But in this case, 6 p.m., most people are heading home from work and it makes sense to be able to pop in. We like to be a venue for people of all ages to come, but one thing I do know about those that have not been reached -- beer is enjoyed by all.”

‘We feel like it’s time’: Bojangles Coliseum mass vaccination clinic will soon close

In a matter of weeks, Mecklenburg County will shut down the mass vaccination site at Bojangles Coliseum. Health Director Gibbie Harris told county commissioners Tuesday night that the site will close on May 22.

Earlier in the day, Mecklenburg County Public Health (MCPH) announced that the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Bojangles Coliseum on East Independence Boulevard will now accept walk-in vaccinations as well as appointments.

The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and on Wednesday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Appointments are still available as well.

Those 16 and older can make an appointment at StarMed.Care or by calling the MCPH COVID-19 Hotline at 980-314-9400 (Option 3 for English and Option 8 for Spanish).

Harris said the site will close in late May because the supply outweighs the demand.

Appointments at mass vaccination sites like Bojangles Coliseum were hard to come by a month ago, but now that more locations are offering the vaccine, there’s just not enough demand for this site to stay open, she said.

“With some of the large sites that are still available through our healthcare systems, and with our pharmacies being more available, we feel like it’s time for the Bojangles Coliseum site to close down,” she told commissioners.

Harris also said the county has a problem with people missing their appointments.

The county is seeing some hesitancy but mainly a lack of urgency in getting a COVID-19 shot, Harris said. The county is looking at ways to make it as easy as possible to get a vaccine.

If no appointments are available, anyone who is eligible can join the waitlist here.

Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will be administered at the clinic because of the recommended pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Second dose appointments will be scheduled during the first dose appointments.

Anyone who needs transportation to a vaccination appointment should call the Mecklenburg County Transportation System at 980-314-7600.

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

Mecklenburg County vaccine providers are currently administering the Moderna, and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. These COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone at no cost to the person receiving the vaccine, no matter whether you have health insurance.

‘We feel like it’s time’: Bojangles Coliseum mass vaccination clinic will soon close

Walk-ins now accepted at all Novant Health vaccination sites

As of April 20, all Novant Health vaccination sites are open to walk-in appointments, as supply allows.

Locations and times:

• Novant Health Medical Group - Hanes (196 Hanes Mall Circle, Winston-Salem, NC 27103) is open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group - East Mecklenburg (6070 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28212) is open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group - Freedom Drive (3149 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208) is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group - Huntersville (17220 Northcross Drive, Suite 110, Huntersville, NC 28078) is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group – Salisbury (J.F. Hurley YMCA 828 Jake Alexander Blvd. W Salisbury, NC 28147) is open from Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• This location will be open on Saturday, May 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You do not have to be a Novant Health patient to make an appointment. If you already have a vaccine appointment, you are able to walk-in or reschedule for earlier vaccination.

Pfizer appointments are available for everyone who is 16 years or older. Moderna appointments are available for everyone who is 18 years or older.

How to schedule:

While walk-ins are now accepted, Novant still encourages people to schedule an appointment.

• If you have a MyChart account, appointment availability can be accessed under Visits -> Schedule an appointment.
• If you do not have a MyChart account, you can schedule at GetVaccinated.org.
• NOTE: MyChart is the best way to schedule an appointment. Anyone can create a MyChart account by visiting here.

Top questions:

Is the vaccine free?

YES. All COVID-19 vaccines are free for every individual, including those who do not have insurance.

Is identification required?

NO. Individuals will not be asked for any identification, proof of residency or insurance information.

Can you bring someone with you?

YES. Individuals who need to bring someone with them to their appointment are allowed to bring one

visitor. Note: all people entering a vaccination clinic will go through a screening. Anyone with a fever or who

is exhibiting cold or flu-like symptoms will not be permitted inside.

How long will my vaccination take?

We encourage everyone to schedule an appointment to help reduce potential wait times. However, most

vaccination clinics do not have wait times and the length of the visit includes registration, vaccine

administration and observation. Most patients will be monitored for 15 minutes. Anyone with a history of

anaphylaxis will be monitored for 30 minutes.

Every U.S. state has opened COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults (NCD)

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