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Mom shares frustration with state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan after son denied shot

Tanya Holland said she and her 22-year-old son Chris, who has Down Syndrome, were eager to get their COVID-19 vaccine together on Monday at the Johnston County Health Department.

Posted Updated

By
Leslie Moreno
, WRAL multimedia journalist
SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Tanya Holland said she and her 22-year-old son Chris, who has Down Syndrome, were eager to get their COVID-19 vaccine together on Monday at the Johnston County Health Department.

"I called and made an appointment. I told them he had Down Syndrome and his age but when I arrived here this morning, I was told they were sorry there was a confusion and he's not eligible [to get the vaccine] because it's not his time," explained Holland.

Holland is her son's main caregiver. She said it's been a tough year for her son, as he hasn't been able to leave the house because of his risk for the virus.

Under DHHS' current vaccine groups, Chris Holland won't be eligible for the vaccine until the state begins vaccinating Group 4, which is adults at high risk for exposure and increased risk of severe illness. Currently, the state is beginning to vaccinate parts of Group 3, which is frontline essential workers.

"I would have gladly given up my vaccine today, in order to give it to my son," said Holland.

A spokesperson for Johnston County Health Department said the department is adhering to the vaccination guidelines set by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

In a statement the county health department added that "deviations from the groups may occur from time-to-time to avoid the wasting of vaccine doses."

Holland says her son will be first in line when eligible, but in the meantime she has a message for Gov. Roy Cooper.

"We are demanding that you take a hard second look at the vaccine protocol that you've established [because] it makes no sense," said Holland. "Your caretaker can get this vaccine when the medically fragile person cannot."

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