NC Ups Efforts To Reach Marginalized Communities In Vaccine Push

NORTH CAROLINA — State public health officials are aiming to bridge the existing healthcare gap in historically marginalized communities by prioritizing vaccine distribution to Black and Hispanic communities throughout North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday.

The news comes as the state learned it will soon receive a small increase to its weekly 150,000-dose federal vaccine allocation.

"Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by this devastating pandemic, and the state is working to reduce the high rates of sickness that this population is experiencing," Cooper said during a news conference.

At least one out of every five COVID-19 case has occurred in the state's Black community, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Far fewer in the community, however, are currently getting vaccinated. As of Feb. 9, fewer than 14 percent of the 1 million first doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the state have gone to Black residents.

"The health care coverage gap in North Carolina has left many without access to a doctor," Cooper said. "Add to that longstanding, systemic inequities in our healthcare system, and you can get mistrust of this vaccine as well as lack of preventative care."

The state is making a conscious effort to track data, include vaccine providers in communities of color in every county and telling vaccine providers that the state expects them to concentrate distribution efforts on underserved communities, Cooper said.

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The effort is already showing signs of success, according to the governor, who pointed to recent vaccination data. About 18 percent of vaccines administered in North Carolina last week were for Black North Carolinians, up from 11 percent reported a month earlier. "That's a 65 percent increase," he said.

While vaccination demands continue to outpace supply in North Carolina, state public health officials are readying the statewide system to prepare for vaccine increases in the future. Cooper announced Tuesday he signed a new executive order that temporarily waives industry regulations in order to speed vaccine distribution and gives DHHS authority to expand types of providers to administer shots.

"We know there’s still not enough vaccine supply to vaccinate the millions of people who need it," Cooper said. "We’re pushing for more. And today on a call with the Biden Administration’s Coronavirus team we were told NC would get another five percent increase in vaccine supply this week."

Group 3 Timeline
As the state readies for the slight uptick in federal supply, North Carolinians will soon have an outline for when vaccinations will be allowed for "Group 3" frontline essential workers, which includes grocery store workers, restaurant workers, law enforcement and teachers.

Currently, the state is vaccinating healthcare workers with in-person patient contact, long-term care facility staff and residents and those 65 and older.

Of those eligible to receive the vaccine in the latter group, about half of those 65 and older in the state have had a shot, according to DHHS.

"It's important to get those shots in arms, and there are thousands and thousands of people that are on waiting lists across the state who are 65 and over," Cooper said.

By the end of the week, however, the state plans to announce precise dates for when vaccine providers may expand to essential frontline workers, Cooper said.

North Carolina reported nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, upping the state's tally to more than 802,000 known cases. At least 9.3 percent of tests were positive.

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