These 11 North Carolina health care providers will be the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine

North Carolina health care providers who will receive the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines:

NC company will be part of crucial COVID-19 vaccine 'cold chain'

DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said last week the state is preparing to receive its first shipments of the Pfizer vaccine as soon as the week of Dec. 14. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to review that vaccine at a meeting on Thursday.

A review of the vaccine created by Moderna is scheduled for Dec. 17. If approved, doses of the Moderna vaccine could also be available in North Carolina before Christmas.

Local doctors said they anticipate a small supply of vaccine as it rolls out across North Carolina.

"This is coming at such a crucial time," said infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital Dr. Cameron Wolfe. "We'll want to offer it first to all health care workers, second [to] all the patients who need it and then moving on out into the community."

From then on, there are expected to be weekly shipments from both drug makers.

“The initial supply of vaccines will go to a limited number of hospitals,” Cohen said.

Entire corners of the state will not be receiving the first round of vaccine. Health experts said the vaccine must be stored at ultra-low freezing temperatures in order to be effective.

"It's a list that's generated mainly out of centers that have capacity to have and store ultra-cold freezing vaccines," explained Wolfe.

A spokesperson for WakeMed said the hospital system is "set to receive the COVID-19 vaccine."

"WakeMed will receive the COVID-19 vaccine within days of the first 11 healthcare providers," officials explained.

Those who work with and near COVID-19 patients and staff and residents of long-term care facilities are at the top of the state’s priority list for vaccines.

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