Zero wasted doses: UNC Health opens 'leftover' COVID-19 vaccine clinic
UNC Health is ensuring no vaccines are wasted by opening up its clinic at the Friday Center at the end of each day to give away any "leftover" doses.
Posted — UpdatedA new Twitter page referred to as the "end of day COVID vaccine standby account" is the main source for information about the clinic. If users turn on notifications from the account, they will be alerted on days the Friday Center has leftover doses.
"Our staff is lean and we can't manage to call all voicemails back," one post read. "Twitter has been good because the concept is simple and we don't have to rely on staff to call individuals. We hope this makes sense."
To get a vaccine, people need to be within 20 minutes of the Friday Center when notified. A vaccine is not guaranteed at that time, but they can start driving over and will either be given or scheduled for a vaccine.
Elizabeth Ramsey from the Friday Center said the clinics usually have leftover doses between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m.
"They arrive and we get them checked in based on our final count," explained Ramsey. "If we don't have any surplus doses -- which is really rare -- then we will schedule the patient."
The Friday Center has been running off appointments for months, but due to cancellations, extra vaccines may be available. Ramsey said there are at least a few vaccines leftover each day.
Vaccines are currently open to Groups 1-4 but will be available soon for Group 5. The clinic has been giving out all vaccines -- Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Callers will be told which vaccine they will be getting when they reach out.
According to Twitter, the Friday Center, located at 100 Friday Center Drive, is open as a vaccination site on weekdays and most Saturdays.
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