OXFORD — Although supply of the COVID-19 vaccines remains critically low, the number of people getting the shot is steadily going up.

As of Tuesday, 7,826 people had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine in Granville County — about 12.95% of the population. Most of those, as many as 4,030, had gotten both doses.

Granville Vance Public Health says it gets a few hundred doses each week, but receives tens of thousands of calls from people trying to make appointments.

Teachers and other school personnel can start getting vaccinated Feb. 24, the state announced last week.

The state will expand eligibility to Group 3, starting with school employees, including principals and bus drivers, Gov. Roy Cooper announced. Other essential and frontline workers will be able to get COVID-19 vaccines starting March 10. This includes grocery store employees, farmworkers and critical manufacturing employees.

“Because supply is so limited and the Group 3 population of workers is so large, we will need to move to that next group gradually,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

People who are 65 and older can still be vaccinated.

Granville Vance Public Health has been holding vaccination clinics — by appointment only — regularly each week. Clinics were held for both first and second doses in Henderson and Oxford last week. A clinic in Creedmoor at Bible Baptist Church was held Friday.

“Remember, the primary limiting factor for being able to go any faster or book any more appointments is vaccine supply,” Lisa Harrison, GVPH director, said in an email statement. “Do not panic if you are unable to get an appointment this week — more opportunities open up every few days when we know what we will be receiving the following week. Keep trying!”

Among those recently vaccinated were Sue Hinman, chair of the Granville County Board of Commissioners. She encouraged everyone to be vaccinated.

At a vaccination clinic Friday at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center in Oxford, many of those who were given shots also encouraged vaccination. Betsy Reese said she never felt the needle when it went in and Nora Towler said it was quick and easy.