Pitt County Health Department received its first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this morning, December 23, 2020. The Health Department’s initial supply of the vaccine is reserved to vaccinate individuals who are classified as Group 1a, which is the highest risk category. These individuals include, but are not limited to, first responders; frontline public health workers; and staff and residents of long-term care facilities who are not enrolled in the federal pharmacy partnership program. The Health Department is following the NC DHHS Vaccine Distribution Prioritization Drilldown Framework as a resource to prioritize who should receive the vaccine. This risk-based framework is based on the National Academy of Medicine Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 and the CDC Advisory Committee Immunization Practice.
Eric Griffin, the City of Greenville’s Fire and Rescue Chief and Dr. Adam Harrell, a local dentist and Chairman of the Pitt County Board of Health, were the first two individuals vaccinated by the Health Department. The Health Department is now working to schedule vaccinations for additional first responders and public health workers. Emergency Preparedness staff members have also contacted long-term care facilities to assess their vaccination needs for both staff and residents and to make arrangements to provide these vaccinations.
The Health Department is collaborating with Vidant Medical Center to ensure that frontline community healthcare workers also receive the vaccine. Medical Practices, that would like to register their staff to receive the vaccine, should call the Health Department’s COVID-19 Hotline at 252-902-2300, Option 4 and leave a message with the following information: 1) Name of the Medical Practice, 2) Contact person’s name, 3) Contact person’s phone number. Messages will be returned as soon as possible. Only Medical Practices should request this service. More information will be provided when the vaccine is available for the general public.
“The past several months have been a journey for us all. This vaccine may be the agent to extinguish the COVID-19 fire and put us on the road to end the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. John Silvernail, Pitt County Health Director.
