HENDERSON — Granville Vance Public Health began scheduling appointments this week with adults aged 75 and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine. 

On Monday, the health department said it vaccinated 44 people in Granville County and another 88 in Vance. 

Vaccines are only available by appointment to those who qualify during Phase 1b, Group 1 of the vaccine rollout schedule. That includes adults aged 75 and older along with Health care workers fighting COVID-19 and long-term care staff and residents.

On Monday, the health department set up a COVID-19 vaccine hotline for qualifying adults to call and schedule a vaccination appointment. All appointments for this week are already taken, but the health department said it will begin scheduling appointments for next week soon. 

The hotline is 252-295-1503. 

In the afternoon after setting up the phone line, the health department said it got 471 calls. It was only able to answer 173 calls. Health officials urge patience due to the high volume of calls. 

Health director Lisa Harrison said there are limited appointment slots, and the department is not scheduling vaccinations more than two weeks out, because it doesn’t know how many doses it will have beyond that. 

If all appointments are filled, the hotline may temporarily close later in the week. 

“We ask that individuals not leave voicemails regarding vaccine appointments as we are unable to return calls given the high volume of calls we are receiving,” Harrison said. “We are getting more vaccine each week so additional appointments will be available as we learn what our allotment will be. We'll be sure to announce on our website and social media when our hotline is open and closed.”

Vaccines are issued both at the health department and at off-site clinics. 

Maria Parham Hospital and Granville Health Systems are also vaccinating adults aged 75 and older. 

Maria Parham Hospital is administering vaccines at the Maria Parham Health COVID Vaccine Clinic, 566 Ruin Creek Road in Henderson, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 252-436-1693 from  8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Granville Health System will offer the vaccines on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only in the parking lot of Granville Primary Care & OB/GYN. 110 Professional Park Drive in Oxford, on the campus of Granville Medical Center. 

Appointments can be made at https://www.ghshospital.org/patients-visitors/ghs-covid-19-vaccine.

Phases of vaccine administration in North Carolina

Phase 1a

Health care workers fighting COVID-19 and long-term care staff and residents.

Phase 1b

Group 1 — Adults 75 and older.

Group 2 — Health care workers and front-line essential workers 50 and older.

Group 3 — Health care workers and front-line essential workers of any age.

Phase 2

Group 1 — Adults aged 65-74. 

Group 2 — Anyone 16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions.

Group 3 — Essential workers. 

Phase 3

College and university students and K-12 students age 16 and over. Younger children will only be vaccinated when the vaccine is approved for them.

Phase 4

Everyone who wants a vaccine.