Here's The Estimated COVID-19 Vaccine Wait Time In Mecklenburg

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, NC — With the United Kingdom approving a COVID-19 vaccine for use this week and the Tar Heel State preparing for a rollout as soon as Christmas, the New York Times, the Surgo Foundation and Ariadne Labs have come up with a way to calculate the number of people who will need a vaccine in each state and county — and where Mecklenburg County residents might fit in that line.

For example, an average 40-year-old Mecklenburg County resident with no professional or health-related special circumstances would be in line behind 268.7 million people across the United States, according to the study.

In North Carolina, the projection would be behind 8.5 million others who are at higher risk, in a state with a population of more than 10 million. In Mecklenburg County,885,900 would be ahead of you in a county with approximately 1.1 million residents.

But those caveats make a difference.

The same person with higher risk health conditions will have a shortened line, behind around 725,800 in North Carolina and 92,200 in Mecklenburg County. A healthy first responder would be at 610,400 on the line on the state level and 76,100 in Mecklenburg County.

You can input your specific information on the Times website.

Vaccine Rollout
No matter what place in line you end up in, North Carolina has been preparing to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine for months.

Earlier this week, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said the state anticipates receiving the first doses of the vaccine by mid-December, and that the first phase of vaccinations will be prioritized for healthcare workers and those living and working in long term care facilities.

SEE ALSO: NC Health Officials Preparing For COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out

"Our state is preparing to receive the Pfizer vaccine that requires ultra-cold storage," a capability that a number of state hospitals already have, Cooper said. "We're a big state with rural areas that stretch for hundreds of miles. Every person is important, and we'll work hard to overcome challenges that our geography presents."

Cooper emphasized state officials had confidence in the new vaccines.

"We want people to get vaccinated when it's your turn," he said. "In order for this to work, we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible."

Russ Crespolini, Patch Staff, contributed