New North Carolina plan delivers more COVID-19 vaccine doses to counties where vaccination rate lags

North Carolina will soon change the way it distributes coronavirus vaccines across the state.

The state's Department of Health and Human Services plans to shift to a plan that prioritizes counties with low vaccination rates, rather than stick with the plan that distributes vaccines based on county populations. The department explained the change in an email to WRAL reporters Keely Arthur and Ali Ingersoll.

North Carolina expects to receive about 237,560 first doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, as well as 11,500 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week, Catie Armstrong, a spokeswoman for the health department, said in an email.

But now the distribution amounts will be determined based on the percentage of residents in a county not yet vaccinated, Armstrong said.

"This is a shift from previous allocations that were based on number of residents in a county. The updated methodology provides vaccine across the state in areas where it is most needed and helps ensure access to those that are not yet vaccinated," she said.

"I think this new formula is better at matching up where people are unvaccinated and matching it with vaccines there," Dr. Mandy Cohen said, answering WRAL's questions during Tuesday's press conference.  

Under the new policy, counties including Hoke, Cumberland and Harnett - those with some of the lowest rates, will be getting more doses. Vaccine hesitancy remains a concern as a health system in one of those areas, Cumberland, has already moved into Group 5.  

"We’re going to continue to work to shave away this vaccine hesitancy because we’re seeing it’s proving time and time again that this is safe and effective and we can completely rely on it to turn the corner on this pandemic," said Gov. Roy Cooper.