A group of heroes are helping Durham catch up with vaccine rollout: The National Guard. State health numbers show Durham lags behind the state average in administering vaccines -- but with the help of the National Guard, that's about to change.
FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW. >>> STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR A SLOW VACCINE ROLLOUT. NOW HELP HAS ARRIVED. RIGHT NOW, TO ACTIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY WILL HELP SPEED THE ACCESS TO SHOTS IN THE TRIANGLE. THAT EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.>>> NUMBERS FROM THE STATE SO DARA LAGS BEHIND THE STATE AVERAGE IN GETTING VACCINES. THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE WITH THE HELP OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND PLANES FOR MS VACCINATION CLINIC. OUR REPORTER IS AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLE.>>> THE NATIONAL GUARD MAY COME HERE TO TRANSFER HURRICANES AND FLOODS. VERY VERSATILE GROUP OF PEOPLE NOT HELPING WITH THE VACCINE ROLLOUTS IN DURHAM COUNTY. BOTH ADMINISTERING SHOTS AND HELPING WITH THE PAPERWORK SIDE OF THINGS AS WELL.>>> 12 NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ARRIVED AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON WEDNESDAY.>> THEY HAVE COME IN AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. >> ALREADY THERE IS SPEEDING UP THE ROLLOUT WHICH HAS BEEN CRITICIZED AT TIMES FOR BEING TOO SLOW. >>> THE NATIONAL GUARD REPRESENTATIVE SAY THE NUMBER SO INCREASE AROUND 10 TO 18 PERCENT IN THE NUMBER OF VACCINES ADMINISTERED. >> WE'RE HERE IT READY AND RELIABLE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM UNTIL THE DEMAND SAYS WE DO NOT NEED THEM ANYMORE. >> WE ARE AT A MUCH BETTER PLACE. WE LOOK FOR TO THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. >> THEY SAID THEY HAVE DEPLOYED 26 TEAMS OF SIX PEOPLE TO COUNTIES INCLUDING CUMBERLAND AND JOHNSTON.>>> IT IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. >> SHE IS GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE. SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE SHOT IN DURHAM BUT CANNOT FIND EMPLOYMENT. >> CLEARLY WE NEED TO HAVE THINGS HAPPENING MORE QUICKLY FOR ALL OF US NEED TO BE VACCINATED. >>> THE DURUM HEALTH DIRECTOR SAYS MORE RELIEF IS ON THE HORIZON. THE STATE IS PLANNING TO PUT A MEGA SITE IN DURHAM THAT WILL BE ABLE TO VACCINATE AROUND 45,000 PEOPLE PER WEEK. >> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERE STILL WORKING OUT THE LOGISTICS. REALLY PLANNING CARD TO GET THAT STOOD UP 1 FEBRUARY.>>> THE NATIONAL GUARD SPOKESPERSON SAYS OTHER COUNTIES REQUEST THEIR HELP. THERE TRAINED AND READY TO GO AT A MOMENTS NOTICE.
