RALEIGH — Bad weather across the nation has slowed shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines this week, aut...
RALEIGH — Bad weather across the nation has slowed shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines this week, authorities said Thursday.
“Due to the severe winter weather currently impacting a large swath of the country, the U.S. government is projecting widespread delays in COVID-19 vaccine shipments and deliveries over the next few days,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said both first and second dose shipments in North Carolina have been impacted. As of Thursday, Moderna vaccines had not been shipped while Pfizer had shipped only a “limited number.” Both vaccines are typically received by the state on Thursdays.
These delays may cause appointments to be postponed or rescheduled. In Franklin County, the health department canceled its Thursday clinic at the Triangle North Executive Airport. People who haven’t been contacted to reschedule their appointment should email the department at COVIDvax@franklincounty.nc.us, officials said.
“Everyone scheduled for a second dose for 2/6/21 and 2/18/21 from the Franklin County Health Department can be rescheduled for next week and still be within CDC guidelines for timing of their second dose,” Health Director Scott LaVigne wrote Wednesday.
Wake County also canceled its mass vaccination event at PNC Arena in Raleigh Thursday.
N.C. DHHS is tracking shipments to help providers quickly reschedule appointments, officials said.
To find out when you’re eligible to receive your shot, visit www.yourspotyourshot.nc.gov for English information and www.vacunate.nc.gov for Spanish information.
To register for an appointment, Wake County residents should go to www.covid19.wakegov.com/vaccine while Franklin County residents should visit www.franklincountync.us/alerts/corona-virus/covid-19-joint-information-center.
As of Friday, the state had administered around 96% of the total vaccines it had received, according to the N.C. DHHS dashboard. That’s more than 1.98 million doses statewide.
Statewide, most people who have received their vaccine have been white, around 78%; and non-Hispanic, around 97%. Around 60% are female.
Most people receiving their first dose of the vaccine this week are 65 and older, around 69%.
More than 182,000 vaccines have been administered in Wake County. More than 58,000 people have taken both doses or about 5% of the county’s population.
In Franklin County, more than 10,800 doses have been administered. Roughly 10% of the county’s population has received at least one dose. Around 3,600 people have taken both shots.
CVS and Walgreens have given more than 171,000 vaccines to residents and employees in long-term care facilities.