CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen says North Carolina is on a "dangerous course" with its rising COVID-19 cases Thursday but shared optimism that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be in the state very soon.
"Although the vaccines were developed quickly they were built upon years of scientific work in developing vaccines for similar viruses," Dr. Cohen said.
North Carolina health officials reported 5,556 new COVID-19 cases and 2,440 hospitalizations Thursday. The two-week positivity rate for North Carolina has risen to 9.8%.
"Every day, new records have been set," Cohen said. "The state is on a dangerous course. If you don't live with someone and you're around them, wear a mask, stay six feet apart and wash your hands frequently."
An FDA advisory board met Thursday to discuss emergency authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Once approved by the FDA, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed to 11 hospital groups across North Carolina, including Atrium Health in Charlotte.
"This is the tool we've been waiting for," Cohen said. "Vaccines will begin shipping within the next few days. Years of scientific work went into developing these vaccines. More than 70,000 people participated in trials for Pfizer and Moderna, whose vaccine is proven to be 95% effective."
Healthcare workers at high risk of COVID-19 and people working in long-term care facilities are at the top of the state’s priority list for vaccines, but Dr. Cohen said hospitals will decide who is vaccinated first.
"There is no COVID-19 virus in the actual vaccine themselves. The vaccine imitates the infection so our body thinks the germ is attacking," Dr. Cohen said.
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Cohen said once approved, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will go to Walgreens and CVS pharmacies for the general public. North Carolina plans to provide another update on Dec. 22 regarding vaccine distribution, according to Cohen.
North Carolina's vaccine distribution plan
All sites receiving Week 1 allocations are hospitals. The 11 facilities receiving advance/early shipments are but a portion of the sites included in the week-1 distribution. these 11 facilities have sufficient ultra-cold-storage space to get and hold vaccine pending final authorization. No site will be able to administer vaccine until after final FDA authorization and recommendations from the CDC on who the vaccine is appropriate for approval. And for any reason, should the CDC recommendations be delayed, these 11 facilities will have to continue to hold the vaccine.
After the CDC makes its recommendations, the manufacturer will begin shipping vaccines using dry ice to an additional 42 hospitals in the state.
"These hospitals were chosen based on bed capacity, health care workers and county population," Dr. Cohen said.
The federal government will determine how much vaccine will go to each state based on population. We expect to receive 85,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in this first shipment. These will be shipped in batches of at least 975 doses. So each location must be able to store this amount in ultra-cold storage or keep the shipping container refilled with dry ice for up to 30 days or use the doses within 10 to 15 days without refilling dry ice. We do not yet know our Week 2 allocations, so we do not have a list of hospitals that will receive Week 2 doses nor how many.
Gov. Roy Cooper's new modified stay-at-home order will take effect Friday at 5 p.m. The order includes a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. and places restrictions on certain businesses, such as restaurants and salons.
"You should avoid non-essential activities and avoid people you don't live with," Dr. Cohen said Tuesday. "I am very worried... Do not wait until it is you or your loved one sick before you wear a mask."