NEED TO KNOW: THE COVID-19 VACCINE IN DURHAM By Chiara Evans
I N PA RT N E R S H I P W I T H
CITY OF DURHAM | COUNTY OF DURHAM | DUKE UNIVERSITY | DUKE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM | DURHAM CAN | DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURHAM CONGREGATIONS IN ACTION | GREATER DURHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | INTERDENOMINATIONAL MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE LINCOLN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | PROJECT ACCESS OF DURHAM COUNTY | PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHY DURHAM TRIANGLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | THE INSTITUTE
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PHOTO BY SHAWN ROCCO/DUKEHEALTH
n a coordinated effort among the Durham County which includes frontline essential workers, is next, followed Department of Public Health (DCoDPH), the North by Group 4 that includes anyone 16-64 years old with highCarolina Department of Health and Human Services risk medical conditions, incarcerated individuals or those (NCDHHS) and local partners, Durham residents are living in close quarters, and remaining essential workers beginning to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. not yet vaccinated. The general public will have access to On Dec. 20, 2020, the the vaccine in Group 5. State DCoDPH received its first and local officials will have to shipment of 3,200 doses of manage the influx of vaccines Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. as well as when, where and Among the first to receive how to distribute them, since shots are health care workers there is not unlimited supply, and staff regularly exposed to and demand for the vaccine COVID-19 patients, health care is expected to outstrip our workers issuing the vaccine allocation initially. But the hope and residents or staff in longis that vaccines will become term care facilities. available to all community The DCoDPH is providing members by summer 2021. vaccinations according to the Dr. Ibukun Akinboyo, Roy Cuttino, 75, gets his COVID-19 vaccination on Jan. 6, 2021. state and national phased assistant professor in Duke’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan. Dr. Cameron Wolfe, associate division of pediatric infectious diseases, explains that both professor of medicine at Duke University, offered guidance Moderna and Pfizer vaccines received emergency use to North Carolina and Durham County officials regarding the authorization and were tested primarily in adults. The FDA, vaccination prioritization. He says the prioritization aims to therefore, has not approved its use for children younger than factor in people’s risk, potential exposure to the virus, as well 16, but trials involving children have begun. as equity and diversity. “I expect that in the next three, six months, those trials will “The one thing we’ve tried really hard to do is make sure be published,” Dr. Akinboyo says. “The FDA can go back and that we’re being inclusive to all different sections of our make decisions on when and how to vaccinate to provide community, no matter what your race, ethnicity, affluence or immunizations for children.” job is,” Dr. Wolfe says. Vaccines are currently available via Duke Health and According to DCoDPH, COVID-19 vaccinations are now at DCoDPH, but more locations will be added as supply available to Group 2, all people age 65 and older. There is no increases. Durham residents can visit yourspotyourshot. requirement to have certain qualifying chronic conditions. nc.gov for further information on when and where to receive While DCoDPH has yet to release an exact timeline outlining their vaccination. When you are eligible to receive a vaccine, when the following phases are to expected occur, Group 3, you can also call DCoDPH’s appointment line at 919-560-HELP (919-560-4357) Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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