UNC Health: No one cutting in line for vaccinations

UNC Health said Thursday that rumors ineligible staff members were getting coronavirus vaccinations ahead of workers exposed to COVID-19 patients weren't true.

The state's vaccination process requires hospitals to submit names of those getting shots so that officials can track who's been vaccinated and needs a second dose. Responding to a WRAL News inquiry, UNC Health officials said that one file of names sent to the state last week included the names of some workers at UNC Medical Center and the UNC School of Medicine who don't quality for Phase 1A of the national distribution plan, which focuses on health care workers at highest risk of exposure to the virus.

"In response, we put in place several steps in our pre-screening and scheduling processes to prevent these individuals from scheduling a vaccine appointment at this time," a statement from the hospital system said. "We are committed to offering a vaccine to all co-workers but will first vaccinate all of our health care personnel in any role working with COVID patients or at high risk of contact with COVID."

UNC Medical Center began vaccinating people on Tuesday, and more than 350 shots were administered on Thursday, "with plans to continue adding more per day soon," officials said.

Meanwhile, a segment of UNC Health's eligible Phase 1A workers haven't yet received the required notification from the state that would allow them to be vaccinated, officials said. The state is struggling to upload the files of eligible people submitted by dozens of hospitals into its database.

"This delay is causing angst among our frontline workers who are eager to get vaccinated once they receive the state’s email," the statement said. "Our teams are working tirelessly to set up the infrastructure to vaccinate all of our 1A workers. ... It will take several weeks to reach all of our 1A co-workers."