COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive At Wake County Public Health; Vaccinations Begin

Press release from the Wake County Government:

by John Hamlin on 12/23/2020 12:00 PM
Category: Human Services; WakeGOV Home Page

Tuesday’s historic delivery triggers Phase 1a of vaccinations

The most
anticipated UPS delivery in perhaps the history of Wake County arrived Tuesday
at the Sunnybrook Public Health building: a deceptively small box of 975 vials
of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer.

Following
guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the N.C.
Department of Health and Human Services, these first vials were dispensed to Wake
County vaccine team members. Emergency responders will begin getting vaccinated
today, as the county starts the Phase 1A rollout of COVID-19 vaccine. Because the
supply of vaccine could remain limited for some time, early doses will go to
those at highest risk of exposure.

“Our vaccination team was so
excited Tuesday morning to see the UPS employee walk in with that single box,”
said Dr. Jason Wittes, Wake County’s Pharmacy Director. “This is a historic week
for our community. It represents the beginning of what will eventually stop the
spread of COVID-19.”

Wake County Board of Commissioners
Chair Matt Calabria said our Public Health Division’s enthusiasm about this
initial vaccine delivery has been incredible.

“It reflects how eager we
are to protect our frontline workers, including our paramedics and the
healthcare workers in our clinics,” he said. “We’re committed to keeping Wake
County residents updated on the vaccination process, so they’ll know when it’s
their turn to roll up their sleeves and get the shot in 2021.”

While we hope Tuesday’s
delivery marks the beginning of regular weekly shipments from the state, there
is no guarantee of a steady supply. Eventually there will be enough vaccine
available for all Wake County residents who want it, but that process is
expected to take months. Until that time, residents should not visit Wake
County Public Health buildings or COVID-19 testing sites to be vaccinated. You
can follow updates on availability, by visiting our vaccine website.

Even as the vaccine begins
to be distributed locally, it’s critical for everyone to stick with the 3W safety
measures - wear a mask, wash your hands, and wait 6 feet apart from others,
especially with the holidays ahead.

Staying Updated

Visit Wake County’s multilingual COVID-19 webpage, which has a set of frequently asked questions to educate
residents, as well as contact information to ask specific questions.

Also look for important information on Wake County’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

This press release was produced by the Wake County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.