New COVID-19 infections have begun to stabilize after peaking in the first week of January. However, positivity rates are still well above 5% in many WNC counties and statewide, prompting Governor Cooper to extend the state’s modified stay at home order through at least February 28.

Local health departments, hospitals, and FQHCs are struggling to keep up with overwhelming demand for COVID-19 vaccines still in limited supply. Scheduling has been complicated by last-minute allotments, diversion of vaccines to large-scale events, and logistical challenges.

Despite a bumpy rollout, North Carolina has administered more than 1 million doses, ranking 6th in the nation, delivering 100% of the total first doses required to prevent reduction in federal allotments.

The NCDHHS vaccine data dashboard now includes information about vaccine doses promised to, received and administered by the state each week. The expanded dashboard also provides the total number of first doses administered by county of residence, race, ethnicity, age, and gender.

The state recently announced a two-part allocation process and three week’s advance notice to help vaccine providers with planning. A weekly minimum allocation will be based on county population data; set-aside allocations will prioritize

• counties with more residents 65 and older from low-wealth and/or marginalized communities
• new vaccine providers with capacity to reach rural and underserved communities
• large-scale community events designed to increase access and promote equity

New NCDHHS guidance states that first doses received by vaccine providers on Tuesday or Wednesday must be used and entered into the COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS) by the following Monday or future allotments may be impacted.

As vaccine supplies continue to be limited, state and local health departments are focused on ensuring equitable access through vaccine set-aside allocations, distribution to community-based health centers, transportation assistance, and sharing information to address vaccine hesitancy that may be rooted, in part, in historical injustices and current health inequities.

A number of resources are available in English and Spanish to support vaccine equity in the NCDHHS COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Toolkit, including a COVID-19 Vaccination 101 Presentation that can be used by healthcare providers, community health workers, organizations, and individuals to facilitate community conversations. Presenter support is available with one-hour trainings held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Regional resources to support community conversations can be accessed here and include the #MyReasonWNC Partner Toolkit.

Be sure to check out our additional health equity resources below.

In December, the FDA provided emergency use authorization for bamlanivimab (BAM), an experimental medicine used to treat mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 illness. The monoclonal antibody infusion treatment takes one hour and may lessen the severity of illness and reduce hospitalizations when administered within the first 10 days of infection.

You can learn more in this fact sheet for healthcare providers. Patients who meet treatment criteria can be referred to

• MAHEC (Buncombe)
• Harris Regional Hospital (Jackson)
• Pardee UNC Health Care (Henderson)
  Priority is given to patients at high risk for disease progression, especially those over age 65 and those with a BMI of 35 or greater. Call 828-694-4270 to determine appropriateness for referral.

• COVID-19 Vaccination Guide for NC Medical Practices (NC AHEC)
• Interim Provider Guidance for Vaccinating North Carolinians (NCDHHS)
• Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Billing Guidelines (NC AHEC, CCNC)
• Vaccine Strategy and Process Update (NCDHHS)
• National Strategy for COVID-19 Response (White House)

Provider Resources

• B.1.1.7 COVID-19 Variant, First Case Reported in NC (NCDHHS)
• Buncombe County Vaccine Dashboard includes waitlist information and vaccinations to date
• Changing the COVID Conversation (de Beaumont Foundation) tip sheets, presentations, and guidance for discussing public health measures and vaccination, informed by national polling
• Coronavirus Dashboard (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health), FAQs, NC research, maps, and visualizations
• Coronavirus Update (Feb. 3) (JAMA) Q&A with Anthony Fauci and the editor of JAMA
• COVID Pop Quiz test your COVID knowledge with short case presentations from MAHEC
• COVID-19 FAQs (Public Health Communicators Collaborative) provides suggested talking points for topics ranging from vaccines to treatment to pandemic fatigue
• Health Care Providers Can Help Combat Harmful Misinformation About the Pandemic (NCMJ)
• Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) provides mental health and resilience supports for healthcare professionals, staff, first responders, and their families
• Language That Improves Vaccine Acceptance (American Public Health Assn. & Nat’l Collaborative for Health Equity) one-page toolkit to guide conversations with patients and community members
• Primary Care for COVID-19, MAHEC Project ECHO archived training on Bamlanivimab infusion treatment and returning to sport after COVID-19
• Vaccine Misinformation Tracking and Response, online tool to help proactively identify and respond to misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines

Equity Resources

• Agriculture Workers and CHWs on the Vaccine (NCDHHS) PSA video in Spanish
• Asheville African American Health Symposium & Webinar Series (MAHEC) archived monthly webinars
• Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (NIH) includes resources to support equity, inclusion, prevention, treatment, and vaccination (FAQs, websites, social media)
• COVID-19 Vaccination 101 (NCDHHS) in English and Spanish, downloadable presentation with presenter notes. Free one-hour trainings available for presenters on Tuesdays & Thursdays
• Fireside Chat on COVID-19 Vaccines (NCDHHS) with Bishop William J. Barber, II and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen who discuss vaccine safety and effectiveness and North Carolina’s plans to ensure equitable access
• How One Woman Tries to Erase COVID Vaccine Doubts in WNC’s Black Communities, Asheville Citizen-Times, community nurse Kathey Avery’s efforts to support WNC’s Black residents
• Immigrants and the COVID Vaccine: What Do I Need to Know? (NC Justice Center) in English and Spanish
• Let’s Talk COVID-19: The Vaccine (YWCA of Asheville & Buncombe County HHS) in English, Spanish and American Sign Language, with a focus on BIPOC lived experiences
• Making It Plain: What Black America Needs to Know About COVID-19 and Vaccines | Black Doctor, archived webinar with Dr. Anthony Fauci and leading national health experts
• Stronghearts Native Helpline (844-762-8483) confidential and anonymous culturally-appropriate domestic, dating and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans

Patient Resources

• Bamlanivimab Infusion Treatment for COVID-19 Fact Sheet (Eli Lilly)
• Buncombe County Vaccine Waitlist for individuals 65 years and older and all healthcare workers
• COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center 888-675-4567 (NCDHHS) avail. 7 days/week, provides vaccine and eligibility information and assistance finding vaccine locations and transportation
• Coronavirus Variants: An Illustrated Guide (NPR) and easy-to-understand article for patients asking about the COVID-19 variants and the possibility of reinfection
• COVID-19 Community Readiness Toolkit (NCDHHS), resources for individuals and families experiencing behavioral health issues, intellectual/developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, intimate partner violence, online schooling challenges, and more
• COVID-19 Vaccine Registration | Ingles Pharmacy, online registration for waitlist; an Ingles pharmacist will call to schedule an appointment when you are eligible and supplies are available
• Deeper Dive Group 3 - Frontline Essential Worker, the next vaccine priority group includes individuals who work in person in eight critical job sectors (this phase has not started yet)
• Find My Vaccine Group (NCDHHS) online tool with optional eligibility notification alerts
• Hope4NC Helpline (855-587-3463) provides connection to mental health and resilience supports to assist with coping and build resilience during the pandemic
• Transportation Assistance (NCDOT & NCDHHS) is available at no cost for those who need help getting to their vaccination site. Patients and caregivers can contact their local public transit system

COVID-19 Vaccination 101 Community Presenter Training (NCDHHS)
Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, Fridays from 10:00 to 11:00 am

Vaccination Q&A for Healthcare Workers and LTC Facility Staff (NCDHHS)
Friday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 pm

COVID-19 Vaccine: Virtual Town Hall (NIH & Curamericas Global)
Saturday, Feb. 6 at 1:00 pm

COVID-19 and the Vaccine: African American Health Webinar Series (MAHEC)
Monday, Feb. 8 at 4:30 pm | COVID-19 Vaccination 101
Thursday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 pm | Provider Forum
Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 4:30 pm | Community Leader Forum
Monday, Mar. 1 at 4:30 pm | Vaccine Hesitancy

Implicit Bias in Mental Health | Area L AHEC (NC AHEC)
Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Trauma: The Effects of the Pandemic in African American Families | African American Conference on Disabilities
Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 12:00 pm EST

QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Vaya Health
Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 9:00 to 11:00 am | Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm

Office Hours with NCDHHS: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan
Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm

The Effects of Historical Trauma in the Black Patient | MAHEC
Friday, Feb. 12 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm | Archived webinars available at avlaahs.net

Get the Scoop on Managing Stress Series (NC Governor’s Institute)
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm: Feb. 16 - Compassion, March 2 - Observing Your Use of Substances

COVID 19 Vaccine Administration | NCDHHS Medicaid Managed Care Series
Thursday, Feb. 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Navigating COVID-19 Webinar Series | NC AHEC & CCNC
Tuesday, Feb. 23 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm

The Power of Information: COVID-19 Vaccines - Facts, Fears and Faith | Equity Focused
Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 pm (with NCDHHS’ Dr. Michelle Laws & Cornell Wright)

NCDHHS COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition
Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Click link above and select “add to distribution list” to receive weekly meeting invitations

WCMS Virtual Yoga and Meditation with Dr. Robyn Tiger
Thursdays from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm
Contact Robyn to register for classes

Archived Trainings

• COVID 19 Vaccine Administration | NCDHHS Medicaid Managed Care Series New
• COVID-19 Update for Long-Term Care Settings NCDHHS | Medicaid Managed Care Series New
• Making It Plain: What Black America Needs to Know About COVID-19 and Vaccines | Black Doctor New
• Tips and Tricks in COVID-19 Vaccine Administration | NC AHEC New
• Vaccination Q&A for Healthcare Workers and LTC Facility Staff (NCDHHS) New
  in English and Spanish
• Vaccine Logistics and Distribution Messaging | Public Health Communications Collaborative New
• Get the Scoop on Managing Stress Series | NC Governor’s Institute New
  Jan. 19, Vaccine 101 and Intro to SCOOP; Feb. 2, Staying Connected
• CVMS Orientation Training Session for Providers | NCDHHS
• What Every Clinician Should Know about COVID-19 Vaccine Safety | CDC
• What Clinicians Need to Know About the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines |CDC
• COVID-19 Vaccine: What North Carolina Practices Need to Know | NCAHEC & CCNC