The PNC Arena in Raleigh will soon host a mass vaccination site in Wake County.
Wake County Public Health has been working with the hospital’s partners to launch the site at the PNC Arena since Thursday, February 11, followed by another round of meetings on Saturday, February 13.
The site will continue to operate in the coming weeks, as vaccine allocations and partnerships allow.
PNC Arena, home of Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University Men’s Basketball, has agreed to turn its 8,000-space parking lot into a vaccine clinic by appointment only.
“As owners of PNC Arena, we are excited to work with our partners, Carolina Hurricanes and NC State University, to support the needs of our community when invited,” said Centennial Authority President Thomas McCormick.
McCormick called the PNC Arena a community asset.
“We are proud to be part of this community and recognize the devastating impact this pandemic has had on so many of its citizens,” said Don Waddell, president of Carolina Hurricanes and PNC Arena.
“PNC Arena has enough space to serve as a mass vaccination site and we want to do everything we can to help Wake County in its fight against COVID-19,” Waddell said.
The site will start with two days of vaccinations next week, with the aim of inviting more than 2,100 health workers and those aged 65 and over to the COVID-19 vaccine waiting list in the county.
This list has received over 94,000 applications since mid-January. In the coming weeks, as state vaccine allocations increase, the 80-acre site has the capacity to expand rapidly to allow more vaccination bands.
“The state sent us some encouraging news last night – that Wake County public health was going to receive almost 3,000 doses more than we initially expected and we couldn’t be happier,” said Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria.
“Thanks in part to the incredible coordination that is already underway between our community partners, we are ready to take these extra doses and deliver them safely and efficiently. This means more vaccinations and more lives saved, “said Calabria.
Those who need assistance with registration or scheduling after being notified that they are eligible for an appointment can call the Wake County Public Health Helpline at 919-250-1515. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Wake County Public Health says it expects to send invitations to waiting list members to sign up for meeting slots as early as Friday night.
Wake County leaders want to reiterate the appointments needed to receive a vaccination, and vaccinations will not be available without confirmation of a place. They say this process is deliberately aimed at vaccinating those most at risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Healthcare workers and those aged 65 and over (Group 1 and Group 2) will be notified via email, text messages and phone calls on Friday. If I receive an email or text notification, it will include two links:
The first link is to sign up for the COVID or CVMS vaccine management system in North Carolina. Completing this form will allow him to move on the fast lane from the vaccine site.
The second link you will receive is to make an appointment to receive the vaccine. Printing meeting information or taking a screenshot on a smartphone will speed up the site check-in process.
Wake County Public Health says those receiving the initial dose of vaccine at the PNC Arena should be able to schedule a second dose while they are on site.
Public transportation will be available through GoRaleigh.
You can take the Edwards Mill 26 bus to Edwards Mill Road from Trinity Road Northbound; or take the Blue Ridge 27 bus to Blue Ridge Road Station on Westchase Boulevard Southbound.
The county will run a shuttle from this station to the vaccination site and return people to the bus station after vaccination and observation. These shuttles will run continuously.