CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) Despite the delays in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and understandable frustrations, health care workers across the Triangle say very few doses have gone to waste.
The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are both extremely temperature-sensitive and vials must be used within hours of being defrosted. But because so few doses are available nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires all states to report whether any doses have expired or been thrown out.
Some states have reported losing hundreds of doses due to malfunctioning freezers or, in one case, a Wisconsin pharmacist who is accused of intentionally spoiling doses by taking them out of cold storage. Fortunately, central North Carolina hospitals and health departments are reporting very few wasted doses, if any at all.
Johnson and Johnson plans to have 10 million COVID-19 vaccines available in the USA by April. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday that the company is close to seeking an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
Heather Merritt was in jail five and a half years ago when she decided to end her addiction to opioids.
Now she wants to be sure people facing similar struggles aren’t forgotten in a world dominated by COVID-19.
“I understand that we’re in a pandemic,” she said. “At the same time, people are still dying of drug overdoses.”
Heather Locklear, who is in a treatment program, has similar feelings. She said six of her friends have died of overdoses in the past year.
“Opioids are killing lots of people,” she said.
A pandemic and an epidemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, health officials are growing increasingly concerned that gains made in the fight against the opioid epidemic might be lost.
As the U.S. enters "what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," President Joe Biden is putting forth a national COVID-19 strategy to ramp up vaccinations and testing, reopen schools and businesses and increase the use of masks.
Vaccinations in Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Health Department will administer vaccinations Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Crown Expo Center at 1960 Coliseum Drive.
The Health Department will hold a special clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Cape Fear Valley Health system COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic administers COVID-19 vaccines at the Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center Auditorium from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Appointments are encouraged. Appointments can be made on the Cape Fear Valley website, capefearvalley.com/coronavirus/vaccine-scheduler.aspx.
Cape Fear Valley added another vaccine clinic at its Health Pavilion North location. The clinic, which is in the ExpressCare clinic at 6387 Ramsey St., is open Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinic is available only by appointment through Friday.