Local high schools open walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinics for students

Children ages 12 years and older will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 now in order to be be fully protected before school starts.

"If a family member is exposed or tests positive for COVID-19 that could put the child or teacher out of work for 24 days through the exposure," said Shirley Bolden, Director of Health Services for Cumberland County Schools. "And we want our people to be with us daily."

Appointments are not needed for the clinics, and school officials told WRAL News there are plenty of the Pfizer vaccines available.

The push for vaccinations come as COVID-19 cases rise statewide.

WRAL Data trackers confirmed 500 new cases every day for the last six days, and more than 460 people are currently in the hospital with COVID-19, more than in nearly a month.

The average number of new daily cases sits at 570, the highest level since June 1.

Despite the rise, the numbers are still just a fraction of the average during the peak of the pandemic.