Chapel Hill, NC – UNC Health on Monday began launching Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccine delivery – meaning that people aged 75 and over could start vaccination.
The lines were short and tidy, and people came in and out in less than half an hour.
The scene was a deviation from some of the long lines and chaos that accompanied some scenes from the health department in different counties. UNC assigns the procedure light and easy to allow visitors to schedule only.
What was it like to receive a vaccine on the first day of phase 1B?
Judith Crook, 76, couldn’t believe how easy it was to get an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine at UNC Health.
“Within three minutes, my chart sent me an email saying your appointment was scheduled,” Crook said.
Glenn Kaluka, who also received a vaccine today, said: “I understand in some sections or cities that it was a little more difficult. But this went very well. “
In-house experience involves checking personal information, getting the vaccine and monitoring for 15 minutes.
“It was a very easy procedure. It went very easily. Everyone was very friendly there – which I appreciated,” Kaluka said.
Vaccines are not limited to current patients in the UNC health system. Anyone can be 75 or older.
Plans to expand vaccination sites
The aim is to increase the number of people who can be vaccinated every day, while reducing the need for older people to risk exposure by waiting in long lines.
While Friday’s Center is the first location, UNC Health plans to have up to a dozen sites across the country.
“We started easily today. We only have a few hundred to understand and understand our process,” said Dr. David Wohl, a professor of medicine at UNC Health’s Division of Infectious Diseases.
He said the launch went very smoothly and hopes to continue streamlining the process so that more people can be vaccinated quickly and without waiting.
“We don’t want people to need much time here,” he said.
Wohl said the plan is to double capacity on Tuesday and continue to double as long as vaccine supply can continue.
There are over 700,000 people over the age of 75 in North Carolina – about 7% of the population. About 85,000 of them live in the Triangle.
To date, in Phase 1A, UNC has vaccinated more than 21,000 health workers, including 3,000 secondary doses that began last week.
Anyone over the age of 75 can access YOURSHOT.ORG and register for a meeting after completing a short questionnaire.
Are you looking for information on how to get vaccinated in your county? WRAL has compiled a list of vaccine information county by county.