NC Expedites Vaccine Eligibility To Group 4 Medically Vulnerable

CHARLOTTE, NC — In a bid to ramp up coronavirus vaccinations across the state, medically vulnerable residents will become eligible to receive a shot a week earlier than initially projected, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday.

"Today, based on vaccine providers' feedback and the expected vaccine supply over the next several weeks, we are announcing that some members of Group 4 will be eligible to receive their vaccine beginning March 17, a week earlier than anticipated," Cooper said.

Those eligible under the expedited timeline include those with medical conditions that put them at higher-risk with COVID-19, as well as those living in congregate living facilities at increased risk of exposure.

There is no requirement of proof of the medical condition, Cooper said. "We're going to rely on people's good judgement and their knowledge of their own medical condition," he said.

Additional members of Group 4 will be added April 7, Cooper said.

"As with previous statewide group eligibility changes, some providers in some parts of the state may not be ready to move into Group 4 by March 17th, and we want them to make sure they are still meeting the demand in Groups 1-3," he added.

Those in Group 4 who will become eligible March 17 are those with medical conditions or living situations that put them at higher risk for COVID-19, including:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Obesity
• Smokers
• Homeless
• Correction facility inmates

Tuesday, Cooper said North Carolina had fully vaccinated about 14 percent of adult residents, with 1.1 million of the state's almost 8 million adult residents fully vaccinated.

"With improving supplies, North Carolina can get more people vaccinated sooner and meet our goals to provide equitable access to vaccinations in every community in the state," North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen said.

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