New tool could help Wake County seniors access vaccine more quickly
Although some health systems have moved into Phase 1B, which allows people ages 75 and older access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Wake County currently doesn't have enough to go around.
Wake County expects to be ready to provide shots to those 75 years and older beginning on Jan. 19.
With 53,000 people in Wake County who fall into the impacted age group, many people are asking why Wake County is moving so much more slowly – and if anything can be done to help seniors get access to the vaccine they need.
Some seniors did manage to get a vaccine
Some Wake County seniors already got their shots, while others are still waiting just to sign up.
Dottie Krimm, age 95, was one of the first senior citizens to get the COVID vaccine in Wake County.
Although the county isn't starting Phase 1B until Jan. 19, Duke Raleigh Hospital started taking appointments for people 75 years and older last week.
Krimm was one of about 800 people who snagged a spot. Now there is a waitlist.
"I was really surprised that I got in so soon," said Krimm. "I thought it was only right for me to take it since I came up for the appointment."
The vaccines can’t roll out quickly enough for people like Krimm who have been isolated during the pandemic.
"It’s so easy to get in an old humdrum – and lose your senses as a matter of fact," she said.
For today - she wears this sticker with pride - hoping better days are ahead.
Why is the Wake County rollout of Phase 1B slower than other places?
County health officials said health care professionals and hospital workers are still first in line.
While seniors in other counties have managed to get the vaccine already – Wilson County, for example, started vaccinating ages 75 and over last week – officials said those counties are much smaller and had fewer healthcare workers in Phase 1 of the rollout.
With Wake County having 1.2 million people, all the populations are much larger – making everything take longer than in smaller counties.
New tool will help Wake County seniors access vaccine more easily
To help seniors prepare for their shots, the Wake County health department is setting up a system allowing people in the right age group to make an appointment for their vaccine.
The health department is setting up a system allowing people in the right age group to make an appointment for their vaccine.
Health officials said this tool could help at-risk seniors avoid waiting in long lines for the vaccine – something that has been seen in other counties.
The health department said their new tool that will allow people to call for an appointment or set one up online will be launched starting on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
More details will be coming out soon. WRAL will be following the story to keep people updated on when the tool becomes available.
If you need more information about how to access a COVID vaccine in your county, WRAL has created a reference guide of county-by-county information.
