North Carolina accepts no new COVID-19 vaccines this week

On Wednesday, April 28, the Moore County Health Department in partnership with Moore County Schools, The O’Neal School, and STARS Charter School will offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to all students who are 16 years of age and older.

Health department staff will administer the vaccine on-site at each of Moore County’s three high schools (North Moore High School, Union Pines High School, and Pinecrest High School) on the morning of April 28. In the afternoon, health department staff will administer vaccine on-site at Pinckney Academy, The O’Neal School, and STARS Charter School.

Information packets which include consent forms will be distributed to parents by the end of the school day on Friday, April 23 with instructions that they be returned by Monday, April 26 should they wish for their child to receive the vaccine. Consent for vaccination will be required from a parent or guardian for any student age 18 or under.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be provided at each of the school vaccination events. The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use with individuals age 16 and older. The health department plans to return to each school in three weeks to provide second doses.

“We understand that it may be difficult for working parents to schedule vaccination appointments for their teen children,” said Health Director Robert Wittmann. “This helps make it easier for our young people to access the vaccine and we hope that everyone who is eligible will take advantage of this opportunity.”

Dr. Christoph Diasio, General Pediatrician for Sandhills Pediatrics, recently shared a video message promoting the upcoming COVID-19 school vaccinations. “This is wonderful because it’s the fastest way we can get more kids protected against this terrible disease,” said Dr. Diasio. “The more people who get protected against this terrible disease, the less room the virus has to circulate in our community and the faster we can get back to normal.”

All North Carolinians age 16 and older became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination on April 7. To date, over 5.5 million doses have been administered in North Carolina. In Moore County, 35.1% of the county’s total population has received at least one dose and 31.1% of the total population has been fully vaccinated.

The Moore County Health Department located at 705 Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage offers COVID-19 vaccine clinics weekly. Appointments can be made by calling 910-947-SHOT (7468) anytime Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Detailed information about COVID-19 vaccination can be found at www.YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov (English) or www.vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). To find other vaccine providers near you, anywhere in North Carolina, you can use the vaccine locator tool found at www.myspot.nc.gov.

Feature photo by Sandhills Sentinel Photographer Melissa Schaub.

 

Contributed.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email