>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M MANDY COHEN, I'M THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR NORTH CAROLINA AND TODAY, I'M JOINED BY MY PARTNER IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR MIKE SPRAYBERRY BRIAN TIPTON AND MONICA MCGHEE ARE OUR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AND JACKIE METIVIER AND ERICA COOGLER ARE OuR SPANISH INTERPRETERS, STARTING WITH THE NUMBERS AS OF THIS MORNING, THERE WERE 3,978 NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY.

3,368 PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED RIGHT NOW ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

AND SADLY THERE HAVE BEEN 8,776 DEATHS.

NORTH CAROLINA VACCINE PROVIDERS HAVE WORKED TIRES TIRELESSLY TO RAMP UP AND VACCINATE PEOPLE UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS ARE THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF THIS PANDEMIC FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR.

THESE WOMEN AND MEN HAVE BEEN WORKING OVERTIME DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND SAVE LIVES.

THEY'VE CARED FOR THE THOUSANDS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS THAT HAVE NEEDED TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

CREATED A TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS COMPLETED MORE THAN 8 AND A HALF MILLION TESTS.

IT CONDUCTED CONTACT TRACING FOR A VIRUS.

THAT HAS NOW INFECTED MORE THAN 723,000 NORTH CAROLINIANS THEY'VE EDUCATED THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE 3 W'S AND SO MUCH MORE.

THEY BORN A WEIGHT THAT WOULD BREAK MANY.

YET NOT ONLY HAVE THEY STOOD FROM THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.

AND HAPPY TO REPORT AS OF MIDNIGHT 95% OF ALL FIRST DOSES OF COVID VACCINE HAD BEEN ADMINISTERED IN THE STATE THAT'S RIGHT 95%.

THAT LEAVES LESS THAN 5% OF FIRST DOSES STILL TO BE ADMINISTERED TODAY BEFORE OUR NEXT FEDERAL SHIPMENT ARRIVES TOMORROW.

NORTH CAROLINA VACCINE PROVIDERS HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN 810,000 DOSES.

630,000 PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THEIR FIRST DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINE FROM NORTH CAROLINA PROVIDERS AND 260,000 OF THOSE FIRST DOSES WERE JUST GIVEN IN THIS PAST WEEK ALONE.

AFTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT ALL STATES ON NOTICE THAT FUTURE VACCINE ALLOCATIONS WOULD BE BASED ON HOW MUCH SUPPLY OUR STATE HAD ON HAND.

WE CHARGED OR VACCINE PROVIDERS WITH EXHAUSTING NORTH CAROLINA SUPPLY OF FIRST DOSES.

AND OUR PARTNERS STEPPED UP.

HOSPITALS LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER VACCINE PROVIDERS WORKED AS ONE TEAM.

TEAM VACCINE ON THE SHARED GOAL.

TOGETHER THEY GOT 95% OF FIRST DOSES INTO THE ARMS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS ACROSS THE STATE.

AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT THAT DEMONSTRATES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS READY TO TAKE ON MORE VACCINE.

AND WE NEED THOSE ADDITIONAL VACCINES NOW.

NOW THE PROVIDERS HAVE CLEARED THE BACKLOG.

THIS COMING WEEK IS GOING TO FEEL LIKE A BIG CHANGE.

FIRST THE STATE ONLY GETS A 120,000 NEW FIRST DOSES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EACH WEEK.

THAT'S MUCH LESS THAN THE NEARLY 260,000 FIRST DOSES THEY JUST GAVE IN THE PAST WEEK.

AND THIS COMING WEEK, A LARGE NUMBER OF DOSES ARE COMMITTED 2 LARGE SCALE EVENTS PLANNED SEVERAL WEEKS BACK WHEN WE WERE ADDRESSING THAT BACKLOG IN VACCINES.

SO THIS WEEK IS GOING TO FEEL PARTICULARLY TIGHT WITH MANY PROVIDERS GETTING SMALL OR NO ALLOCATIONS.

BUT WE KNOW THAT OUR PROVIDERS NEED AS MUCH STABILITY AS WE CAN GIVE THEM IN WHAT IS A VERY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'VE COMMUNICATED WITH ALL VACCINE.

PROVIDERS OUTLINING A PROCESS FOR ALLOCATIONS FOR THE COMING WEEKS TO ENSURE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND CERTAINTY.

NOW THAT THE STATE HAS LARGELY EXHAUSTED THE BACKLOG OF THAT VACCINE.

SUPPLY.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL.

FIRST THERE IS VERY LIMITED SUPPLY OF VACCINE COMING INTO OUR STATE.

SECOND WE HAVE VERY LITTLE ADVANCE NOTICE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES AND SHIPS VACCINE TO NORTH CAROLINA ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITHOUT ADVANCE CERTAINTY OF SUPPLY.

3RD PROVIDERS ARE GIVEN A 48 HOUR WINDOW AND WHEN EVEN VACCINE SUPPLIES ARE GOING TO ARRIVE, MAKING IT HARD TO PLAN CLINICS AND SCHEDULE EVENTS.

BUT HERE'S WHAT WE CAN CONTROL.

STARTING WITH THIS WEEK'S ALLOCATION NORTH CAROLINA WILL RESERVE 84,000 DOSES OF OUR WEEKLY A 120,000 ALLOCATION OF FIRST DOSES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR OUR LOCAL VACCINE PROVIDERS.

PROVIDERS WILL BE GIVEN A BASELINE AMOUNT OF FIRST DOSES THAT THEY CAN EXPECT FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS.

VACCINES WILL BE ALLOCATED TO EACH COUNTY BASED ON POPULATION AND THEN DIVIDED AMONG THE COUNTY'S PROVIDERS BASED ON THEIR VACCINE CAPACITY.

THE REMAINING 36,000 DOSES WILL GO TOWARDS BALANCING VACCINE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS OUR COUNTIES.

AFTER A BIG PUSH TO CLEAR THAT BACKLOG.

WE'LL ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS WITH A FOCUS ON ACHIEVING RACIAL AND ETHNIC EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THIS VACCINE.

3RD WE'RE GOING TO STRATEGICALLY ON BOARD A FEW NEW PROVIDERS TO EXPAND ACCESS IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

WE CONTINUE TO EXPECT THAT SCENE PROVIDERS TO USE ALL FIRST DOSES EACH WEEK OR TRANSFER THEM TO A PROVIDER WHO CAN.

WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE SUPPLY OF SECOND DOSES ON HAND THAT ARE GOING TO MIRROR THOSE FIRST DOSE ALLOCATIONS TO ENSURE EVERYONE GETS BOTH SHOTS AT THE RIGHT TIME.

BUT THOSE FIRST DOSES NEED TO BE OFF THE SHELVES AND GIVEN TO PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY WEEK.

WE'RE ALSO ASKING PROVIDERS TO PRIORITIZE EQUITY.

THE PERCENTAGE OF VACCINES ADMINISTERED TO HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS SHOULD MEET OR EXCEED THE POPULATION ESTIMATES OF THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THEIR COUNTY AND REGION.

THE STATE IS AIDING THESE LOCAL EFFORTS BY OFFERING SUPPORT WITH DATA ENTRY EVENT PLANNING.

COORDINATION AMONGST COMMUNITY PLAYERS PAIRING VOLUNTEER WORK FOR SUCH AS VACCINATORS AND REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE.

HELPING ANSWER PHONES AND MATERIALS TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE VACCINE.

WELL THIS HAS BEEN H#*#*#* ON PROVIDERS WE KNOW THAT IT'S ALSO VERY H#*#*#* O#* NORTH CAROLINIANS.

DEMAND FOR VACCINES VASTLY EXCEEDS OR SUPPLY.

LIMITED SUPPLY MAY RESULT IN WAIT TIMES AND SOMETIMES DELAYED APPOINTMENTS.

BUT EVERYONE WILL HAVE A CHANCE WHEN IT'S THEIR PRIORITY GROUP IS ELIGIBLE.

AND VACCINE SUPPLIES INCREASE.

WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD A BETTER WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INFORMATION.

YESTERDAY WE LAUNCHED A NEW ONLINE TOOL TO HELP NORTH CAROLINIANS KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THEIR VACCINE.

FIND MY VACCINE WALK-THRU USERS THAT A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE WHICH VACCINE GROUP THEY'RE IN.

PEOPLE CAN THEN SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THEIR GROUP CAN GET VACCINATED.

FIND MY VACCINE GROUP IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH GO TO YOUR SPOT YOUR SHOT DOT NC .GOV TO TRY IT OUT.

WE ALSO ADDED ARE ABOUT TO ADD SOME NEW DATA TO THE DEBT VACCINE.

DASHBOARD YOU CAN NOW SEE HOW MANY DOSES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED TO NORTH CAROLINA AND HOW MANY THE STATE HAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED.

YOU'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PERCENT OF DOSES THAT HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED.

THE DASHBOARD PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR BOTH NORTH CAROLINA VACCINE PROVIDERS AND THE FEDERAL LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM.

ALL RIGHT THAT WAS A LOT.

SO TO RECAP WHAT VACCINE PROVIDERS IN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE EXHAUSTED 95% OF THE STATE'S SUPPLY OF FIRST DOSES.

NEXT THE VACCINE SUPPLY IS INCREDIBLY LIMITED.

WE'RE ASKING PROVIDERS TO CONTINUE TO USE ALL FIRST DOSES EACH WEEK BEFORE THE NEXT SHIPMENT ARRIVES.

WE'VE SHARED A PLAN FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS TO GIVE PROVIDERS AS MUCH STABILITY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE A TOOL FOR NORTH CAROLINIANS TO FIND OUT WHICH VACCINE GROUP THEY'RE IN.

AND THE DASHBOARD HAS NEW DATA.

WITH ALL THE ATTENTION WE'VE BEEN PUTTING ON VACCINES.

WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS STILL SPREADING DISEASE ACROSS OUR STATE.

THIS PAST WEEKEND.

WE REPORTED THE FIRST KNOWN CASE OF COVID-19 VARIANT CALLED B 1, 1, 7, WHICH WAS FIRST DETECTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

EARLY DATA SUGGEST THAT THIS VARIANT MAY BE MORE CONTAGIOUS AND THAT'S VERY WORRISOME.

MY DIRECTIVE REMAINS IN PLACE PLEASE STAY HOME ONLY LEAVE HOME FOR ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE WORK SCHOOL OR TO MEET HEALTH CARE NEEDS.

IF YOU MUST LEAVE HOME OR BE WITH PEOPLE WHO YOU DON'T LIVE WITH WEAR A MASK ALL THE TIME.

STAY AT LEAST 6 FEET APART AND WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN KEEP DOING THOSE 3 W'S AND STAYING HOME.

SO WE CAN SLOW THIS VIRUS DOWN WHILE WE GET EVERYONE A SPOT TO GET THEIR SHOT.

AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR SPRAYBERRY.

>> THANK YOU SECRETARY COHEN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

TODAY IS DAY 3.23 OF THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM ACTIVATION FOR THE COVID RESPONSE.

ALONG WITH OUR MANY PARTNERS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE COVID RESPONSE ACROSS THE STATE WITH A VARIETY OF RESOURCES.

THE STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM HAS CIVIL AIR PATROL MEMBERS STATE PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY CARE OF NORTH CAROLINA EMPLOYEES WORKING ON THE VACCINATION EFFORT.

IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.

THIS WEEK THERE ARE ALSO 18 NATIONAL GUARD VACCINATION STRIKE TEAMS AND 18 NATIONAL GUARD VACCINATION ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TEAMS ON SCENE SUPPORTING COUNTIES WITH VACCINATION AVENGE.

THERE'S A TOTAL OF 256 NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS.

CURRENTLY SUPPORTING VACCINATION EFFORTS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE SHOULD NOTE THAT OTHER NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO PROVIDE VITAL SUPPORT TO FOOD BANKS AND SURGED TO COVID TESTING SITES ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN SUPPORT VACCINATION SITES.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER IS A VOLUNTEER BOTH MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL TO HELP AT THE VACCINATION SITE OR AT MEDICAL FACILITIES.

THE WEBSITE THE VISIT IS TERMS DOT IN C E M .ORG.

THAT'S T E OR HIM IS DOT IN C E M .ORG YOU'LL GO INTO A POOL OF VOLUNTEERS TO BE SCREENED.

AND IF APPROVED YOU COULD BE CALLED ON TO ASSIST IN A VACCINATION SITE OR MEDICAL FACILITY IN YOUR AREA.

PART OF THE NEW FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION'S STRATEGY TO COMBAT COVID INCLUDES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE THROUGH FEMA TO THE STAGE PARTICULARLY AROUND VACCINATIONS WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND FEMA TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC NEEDS FROM NORTH CAROLINA RELATED TO VACCINATION SUPPORT.

TIMING OF AVAILABILITY AND THE NECESSARY WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO BEGIN PLANS TO GET HIM ON THE GROUND IN ORDER TO AUGMENT AND SUPPORT THE INCREDIBLE VACCINATION WORK BEING ACCOMPLISHED IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THERE'S STILL A GREAT NEED FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS PART OF OUR PREVENTION STRATEGY.

WORK IS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE COUNTIES WITH ALL FORMS OF PPE AND RELATED SUPPLIES.

DHHS AN IN CM LOGISTIC TEAMS SHIP PPE TO OVER 40 COUNTIES YESTERDAY.

A SPECIAL THANKS GO OUT TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL THE OTHERS FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK IN EVERY FACET OF THE COVID RESPONSE TO PROTECT ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS HERE AT THE STADIO C WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE GREAT SUCCESS STORIES ABOUT YOUR VACCINATION EVENTS AND YES, WE VALUE YOUR SHARED INPUT AS TO HOW WE CAN PUT A BETTER OPERATIONAL PRODUCT OUT ON THE FIELD.

YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE'VE HAD BUMPS ALONG THE WAY BUT IF WE STAY TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN SOLID LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS.

WE'LL ACHIEVE SUCCESS JUST REFLECT ON YOUR AMAZING BODY OF WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR INCREDIBLE.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET THE VACCINE WHEN YOUR TURN COMES IT'S SAFE AND IT'S FREE.

I'M 66 AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FIRST SHOT LAST WEEKEND.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE FOLLOW-UP SHOT IN A FEW WEEKS, A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO KOBE SAWYER WHO JUMPED IN THE TRUCK WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE CLINIC.

YOU HAVE A SHOT SO TAKE YOUR SHOT WOULD VIRAL SPREAD CRITICAL LEVELS IT'S MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER TO OBSERVE THE 3 W'S JUST LIKE MADAME SECRETARY TOLD US WEAR A CLOTH FACE COVERING WAIT AT LEAST 6 FEET APART AND WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN STAY HOME WHERE WAIT AND WASH AND AS ALWAYS DON'T FORGET TO LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FAMILY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

AND THE CALL YOUR LOVED ONE'S DAILY.

THEY WILL APPRECIATE IT.

WITH KINDNESS AND COOPERATION WE WILL ALL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER AS ONE TEAM.

ONE MISSION, ONE FAMILY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MADAM SECRETARY.

>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR GLAD HEAR ABOUT YOUR VACCINATION I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MIND WHEN IT IS MY SPOT TO TAKE MY SHOT SO WHERE EXCITED ABOUT HOW MANY VACCINES HAVE GONE OUT ACROSS THE STATE AND WITH THAT WE'LL OPEN TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> THE FIRST QUESTION TODAY IS FROM RICHARD STRUGGLING WITH THE NEWS AND OBSERVER.

>> HI DOCTOR COHEN THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF DOSES ALLOCATED THROUGH LAST WEEK.

THE ALLOCATIONS PER CAPITA VERY PRETTY WIDELY FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY.

WAKE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED ONE DOSE PER 27 RESIDENT WELL OTHER COUNTIES HAVE RECEIVED ON THOSE PER ACRE RESIDENTS ARE EVEN FEWER IN SOME CASES.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN HOW HOW ARE YOU DECIDING HOW TO ALLOCATE VACCINE AMONG THE COUNTIES AND WHICH FACTORS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS.

>> RICHARD THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION AND AGAIN I THINK WE HAVE HAD DIFFERENT MOMENT IN TIME ALREADY AND JUST THESE FEW SHORT WEEKS WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR VACCINATION EFFORTS WHEN WE FIRST ALLOCATED VACCINE, WE VERY MUCH DID IT POPULATION BASE WHERE EVERY COUNTY WAS GETTING THE SAME NUMBER OF DOSES PER POPULATION.

BUT AS WE NEEDED TO MOVE TO THIS POS YEAR OF SPEED AND MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD CLEARER BACKLOG BECAUSE WE SAW THAT WE DID HAVE VACCINE BUILDING BUILDING UP HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND WE WANTED TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE READY TO TAKE ON MORE VACCINE AND WE WANT THAT VACCINE HERE WE SHIFTED OUR POSTURE TO TO ONE OF SPEED AND WE CERTAINLY ASK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE TO RAMP UP AND THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY IN AN EQUAL WAY IN EVERY SINGLE COUNTY.

AND SO WE COMMITTED TO MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO DOING THAT SOME WERE ADDITIONAL PARTNERS WERE ADDED LIKE OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.

OTHERS WHEN WE WERE ASKING FOR HIGHER, THROUGHPUT SITES LIKE HERE IN WAKE COUNTY OTHERS WHERE WE COMMITTED TO WHAT I'D CALL A MEGA SITE LIKE WE DID AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND WE'LL DO A PANTHER STADIUM SO USING THAT MIX OF STRATEGIES IS HOW WE REALLY CLEARED OUR BACKLOG.

I THINK OR ARTICULATING TODAY IS WHAT IS OR GO FORWARD STRATEGY AS WE NOW HAVE CLEARED THE BACKLOG HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT ALLOCATION FIRST WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT 84,000 OF OUR 121ST DOSES THAT WE GET EVERY WEEK.

84,000 OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO OUR COUNTIES BASED ON POPULATION.

HOWEVER, RICHARD YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THAT BIG EFFORT WE JUST DID TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG THAT THERE ARE SOME COUNTIES WHO ARE HAVE GOTTEN LESS DOSES THAN OTHERS AND SO WE WANT TO USE THAT RESERVE THAT EXTRA 36,000 TO DO EXACTLY THAT TO REBALANCE AFTER WE'VE DONE THAT BACK THAT PUSH TO GET RID OF OUR BACKLOG.

SO THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL SEE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND DOING ALLOCATIONS THIS WEEK IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE READJUSTING NOW TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING DOSES IN AN EQUITABLE WAY NOT JUST FOR GEOGRAPHY I WANT TO POINT OUT BUT ALSO THAT WE ARE REACHING OUR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AS WELL.

I WOULD SAY WE WILL CONTINUE TO REASSESS THIS AS WE LEARN AND I THINK WILL BE A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN TIME.

AS WE GET DIFFERENT INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF SUPPLY BUT AT THIS MOMENT WE'RE MAKING THAT SHIFT FROM THAT PUSH TO GET RID OF THE BACKLOG TO THIS MORE STEADY STATE WHERE WE CAN GIVE OUR PARTNERS SOME CERTAINTY WE DO THAT ALLOCATION BY POPULATION ACROSS COUNTY AND THEN YOU SOME OF THE RESERVE STATE RESERVE SUPPLY TO DO THAT REBALANCING THAT WE MAY NEED TO DO EITHER FOR GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY OR FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC EQUITY.

THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FROM RICHARD STRUGGLING.

THANKS FOR THAT SO WANT TO ASK HOW ONE OF THE STATE WHOSE DURHAM COUNTY FOR A MASS VACCINATION OF THAT WHAT WAS DONE TO THAT DECISION.

>> SO RICHARD I THINK WE'VE HAD WE HAVE NEXT DESTINATION EVENTS EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COULD SAY ABOUT DURHAM VOTE VERSUS OTHERS.

I THINK WE'RE DOING THAT IN IN SO MANY PLACES I COULDN'T EVEN LIST THEM ALL AT THIS POINT SO WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS HAVE RAMPED UP THEIR CAPACITY THAT'S HAPPENING IN GREENVILLE IN GREENSBOROUGH IN IN DURHAM IN NASHVILLE AND SO IN THE CHARLOTTE AREA SO IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER OUR STATE AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD.

TO BE ABLE TO RAMP UP SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.

THE GOVERNOR AND I JUST VISITED WHAT I WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A HIGH THROUGHPUT VACCINATION SITE AT THE FRIDAY CENTER IN ORANGE COUNTY.

SO THESE ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE AND AS I MENTIONED WE WE DO NEED MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THIS VACCINE OUT.

QUICKLY WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEEK-OVER-WEEK THAT WE ARE GETTING THAT VACCINE OUT QUICKLY SO THAT WE ARE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE TO BE THE ONE TO SAY GIVE US MORE VACCINE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE WE KNOW THE SUPPLY IS LIMITED SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET MORE VACCINE INTO OUR STATE IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

THANKS.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TINA TERRY OF US CTV CHARLOTTE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS A VERY WITH WFSB THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.

>> I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN AN EMPHASIS ON THE LARGER HIGH THROUGHPUT SITE YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT THAT HAS LEFT SOME COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR WITH LITTLE OR NO THAT SCENE OUT ALL THIS WEEK.

AND THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN B.

SMALLER COUNTIES IN RURAL AREAS ABOUT BOTH PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET TO THE LARGER SITES.

WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING TO ENSURE THAT SPECIFICALLY ELDERLY ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE WILL COUNTY ARE ABLE TO IT.

THE BACK SEAT.

>> DINA THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK WE NEED A MIX OF STRATEGIES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED IT'S QUICKLY AND AS EQUITABLY AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK LARGE SCALE VACCINATION EVENTS OR ONE PART OF THAT BUT NOT THE ONLY PART AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE US DOING A RANGE OF STRATEGIES, SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE THESE BIGGER EVENTS BUT THAT IS WHY WE ARE GIVING ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

THE CERTAINTY OF THE VACCINE ABLE GET NOW THE SUPPLY IS INCREDIBLY LIMITED SO THEY ARE GOING TO SEE LESS DOSES IN IN THE COMING WEEKS JUST BECAUSE OF OUR LIMITED SUPPLY AND WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO GET OUT ALL OF THE VACCINE THEY HAVE BEFORE NEXT SHIPMENT COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TO GET FOLKS TO THOSE VACCINES SITES.

SO LAST WEEK WE ANNOUNCED 2 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN TRANSPORTATION MONEY THAT IS GOING TO OUR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS TO HELP WITH.

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THAT SCENE EVENTS AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE MANY MANY LOCAL PARTNERS WHO HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE.

TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

I WANT I WANT TO COMMEND DUKE IN PARTICULAR WHO IS WORKING WITH QUITE A NUMBER OF COUNTIES TO AID IN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THEIR VACCINE EVENT WE'RE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE THE STATE.

I THINK THIS IS ALSO ABOUT LOCATING VACCINE EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE WANT TO SERVE I WANT TO CALL OUT NO VAN IN PARTICULAR HAS DONE QUITE A NUMBER OF EVENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AT CHURCHES TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST ACCESSIBLE POINTS BUT TRUSTED POINTS AS WELL.

SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE TO SEE OUR PARTNERS DO AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS AND FROM THE STATE THAT IS OUR EXPECTATION WE IN OUR PROVIDER GUIDANCE THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT TO ALL OF OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS TODAY WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF OPERATIONAL DETAILS AND SUGGESTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES ON WAYS THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS VACCINE AS WE GO FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FROM TINA TERRY TO BE A A C. >> OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN A PLANE IN IT MINISTRATION.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE PLAN TO RAMP UP AND PROVIDE MORE VACCINE DOES THAT MEAN TO BE KIND OF THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM HERE ARE PART OF A DEADLY.

>> THANKS FOR THAT.

YES WE KNOW SUPPLIES ARE INCREDIBLY LIMITED RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE CERTAINLY ADVOCATING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE NEED MORE VACCINE AND WE WANT TO BE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE USE NEARLY ALL OF OUR FIRST DOSES IN THE STATE SO AS OF MIDNIGHT WE'RE AT 95%.

I EXPECT US TO BE NEARLY AT A 100% BY THE END OF 2 DAY MEETING BEFORE OUR NEXT SHIPMENT COMES TOMORROW.

THAT WE HAVE USED UP ALL OF OUR FIRST DOSES SO I THINK WE'RE MAKING OUR STRONGEST STATEMENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN TAKE ON MORE VACCINE AND WE NEED MORE VACCINE.

WE HAVE HEARD GOOD NEWS ON THIS FRONT.

I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO HEAR THAT THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL VACCINE IN OUR FUTURE WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THAT DEFINITIVELY YET I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FOR THIS WEEK, BUT WE HOPE IN THE COMING WEEKS THERE MAY BE THE OPPORTUNITY REFORM OR A VACCINE.

THAT'S WHY I WANT ALL OF OUR PROVIDERS TO BE AT THE READY TO TURN TURN THAT CAPACITY BACK UP.

IF WE ARE TO GET MORE VACCINE AGAIN THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO NEED MULTIPLE STRATEGIES HERE TO DEPLOY PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE GET THAT SHORT NOTICE OF HATE WE MIGHT JUST BE TOLD AT THE LAST MINUTE YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN EXTRA.

YET EVEN 2000 DOSES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY TO TAKE THOSE DOSES AND GET THEM OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA I THINK THAT'S THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS.

SO THAT WE CAN BE READY TO BE GOOD PARTNERS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IF MORE VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JASON THE BRUINS, THE NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO IN IT.

>> HI THANKS FOR THE CALL.

THE QUESTION RATHER.

SO I KNOW THAT IT'S TEACHER SAYS AND TO LOOK UP DEPARTMENT AND HOSPITALS THAT YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT WASTE.

ANY DOES IT ALL AND I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S LESS GUY DIDN'T IN TERMS OF THE STRATEGIES THAT HOSPITALS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOULD NEWS TO MAKING SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY DON'T WASTE ANY.

MAYBE TOOK A QUESTION WITH IT HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY GUIDANCE WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT SORT OF GUIDANCE HAVE YOU GIVEN TO.

CLINICS FOR THEM TO YOU KNOW SORT OF GET RID OF THOSE LAST FEW DOSES.

AND YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING LIKE ARE YOU DOING A SURVEY OF SOME KIND TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES ACROSS THE STATE THE CLINICS ARE IMPLEMENTING.

>> JASON THANKS FOR THAT THAT QUESTION AND SO WE ARE PROVIDING AND WE'RE WE WILL POST TODAY THE GUIDANCE THAT WE GAVE TO OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS.

BOTH ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE ALLOCATION.

OUR EXPECTATIONS OF SPEED AND EQUITY AND THEN SOME OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE I THINK FIRST IS US ALL GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THE TIMING AND THE COMEDIANS.

WHEN ALLOCATIONS ARE KNOWN WHEN SHIPMENTS COME AND WHAT IS THAT PIECE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP UPRIGHT THAT CERTAINTY I THINK IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR US TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO GET THAT VACCINE OUT RIGHT.

SO PART OF THIS IS IS HARD BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON A WEDNESDAY THAT TUESDAY CYCLE.

MOST SHIPMENTS COME ON WEDNESDAY.

BUT SOMETIMES IT COMES TUESDAY, AND SOMETIMES IT COMES THURSDAY, AND THAT'S REALLY HARD FOR OUR PROVIDERS TO REALLY PLAN CLINICS.

SO I THINK PART OF OUR GUIDANCE REALLY IS ABOUT GETTING ON THIS OPERATIONAL TO BE DONE SIR TIMING SO THAT WE KNOW IN A SHIPMENT COMES THEY PLAN THEIR THEIR FIRST DOSE VACCINE CLINICS TO GET THOSE OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THEN IT MEANS LIKELY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY AS WE WAIT FOR THE NEXT SHIPMENT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT DOING FIRST DOSES, THEY'RE DOING MAYBE SECOND DOSES FOR FOLKS AT THAT TIME.

SO I THINK IT'S FIRST AND OPERATIONAL TEMPO AND PACE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH FOLKS THAT HELPED THEM GET THAT OUT.

WE HAVE SURVEYED ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CAPACITY.

THE HOW ABOUT CERTAIN MAX CAPACITY RIGHT BECAUSE LAST WEEK WE GOT OUT 260,000 DOSES SO WE KNOW WE HAVE THAT CAPACITY, BUT THAT WAS HEROIC KINDS OF CAPACITY AND SO GRATEFUL.

FOR FOR THAT INCREDIBLE PUSH LAST WEEK.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE AT A LOWER RATE OF VACCINATIONS AS WE GO FORWARD HERE WITH A LIMITED SUPPLY EVEN IF WE GET A 10% OR 20% BUMP UP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S I'M GOING TO BE NOWHERE NEAR 200 61ST TO A NEW 60,001ST DOSES IN A WEEK.

SO WE WE ARE GOING TO SEE FOLKS BE BELOW THEIR ULTIMATE CAPACITY WHEN WE GIVE THEM THEIR ALLOCATION THIS WEEK.

BUT THAT'S WHY WE WANT THEM TO BE AT THE READY I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE READY TO SAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YES WE CAN TAKE THIS RIGHT NOW TODAY AND WE CAN GET IT OUT QUICKLY.

SO I THINK WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE DETAILS AND AGAIN TRYING TO GIVE FOLKS AS MUCH OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE AND BEST PRACTICES AND WE'RE ALL LEARNING THIS TOGETHER AS WE GO AND THEN WE ARE LEARNING THE BEST PRACTICES DIRECTLY FROM OUR PROVIDERS THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH THIS ON THE GROUND.

HE'S BEEN INCREDIBLY COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

I DO THE LAST THING ON MENTION IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF FOLKS CAN'T USE IT.

THERE IS A PROCESS TO TRANSFER VACCINES AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT IN THE LAST WEEK AND I WANT TO THANK FOLKS FOR BEING SUCH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS THAT IF YOU CAN'T RAMP UP FOR THIS WEEK, LET'S GET TO A PROVIDER WHO CAN WE'VE HAD TRANSFERS OF MORE THAN A 100,000 VACCINES FROM ONE PROVIDER TO ANOTHER IN ORDER TO GET IT OUT WITHIN THAT SAME WEEK AND THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PART OF THE STRATEGY IS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MATCH VACCINE.

WITH THE PARTNERS WHO CAN GET IT OUT IN THAT THAT QUICK AN EQUITABLE MANNER.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THE FOLLOW-UP FROM JASON THE BRUINS AND THE UNC.

BUT THANKS TO THAT THAT WAS A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ON APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE ALSO THE THOUGHTS ON TIMING OUT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT IS.

>> CERTAIN IMPACTING HOW PROVIDERS ABLE TO GET.

THE VACCINE OUT SO MY QUESTION I GUESS MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT.

IF AT THE END OF THE DAY RIGHT IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET THOSE LAST THOSE IS OUT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT LEAST SOME PROVIDERS ARE BASICALLY JUST CALLING FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SAYING YOU KNOW WHOEVER IS ABLE TO BE DOWN HERE THE QUICKEST IF YOU'RE ABLE TO YOU'LL GET A SHOT.

I THINK CLEARLY EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THAT'S BETTER THAN WASTING THE DOSE.

BUT I THINK THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR LINE CUTTING YOU PROBABLY WANT TO HAPPEN TOO OFTEN.

HAVE YOU SOUGHT ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THAT KIND OF USE IT SO TO SPEAK YOU'RE WILLING TO TOLERATE IN THE SYSTEM BEFORE YOU LOOK AT CLINICS AND SAY HEY YOU KNOW WE REALLY WANT YOU GETTING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE DOSES TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE YOU KNOW IN THE PROPER GROUPS.

RIGHT NOW.

>> THANKS JASON ARE VERY CLEAR GUIDANCE IS THAT FOLKS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING THE CATEGORIES THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW THAT MEANS THOSE WHO ARE 65 AND UP AND ALL HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

THAT IS A VERY CLEAR GUIDANCE WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO KEEP A WAIT LIST ON HAND OF FOLKS WHO FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY SO THEY DON'T NEED TO BE CALLING FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT AGAIN I DID NOT WANT A SINGLE DOSE OF THIS VACCINE WASTED SO I WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MAY HAPPEN SOME OF THE TIME BUT IT SHOULD BE EXCEPTIONALLY RARE.

I THINK THERE ARE EASY OPERATIONAL WAYS FOR FOLKS TO KEEP WEIGHT LESS.

FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT PRIORITY GROUP FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO TO USE UP DOSES IF THEY SEE NO SHOWS THEY HAVE EXTRA DOSES AT THE END OF THE VACCINE CLINIC.

I THINK THERE ARE STRATEGIES TO DO THAT AND SO WE HOPE THAT THE NOT THE ACTIONS OF OF PULLING IN THAT FIRST ARM THAT YOU SEE IS VERY VERY RARE AND WE ARE STICKING TO THE PRIORITY GROUPS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT AGAIN, NEVER NEVER WASTE AND MAKE SURE WE GET THAT VACCINE INTO INTO AN ARM.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TEST MARGIN OF ERROR WITH FOX 8 WGHP.

>> THANK YOU TO OUR TIMBER BACK I JUST GET A QUICK QUESTION FROM A GUILFORD COUNTY COUNTY LEADERS HERE AT CITY LEADERS HERE YESTERDAY MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ADMINISTER A LOT MORE VACCINE THAN WHAT THEY RECEIVED THIS PAST WEEK UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE IF THERE IS A LIMITED SUPPLY OF COUNTY LEADERS WHO ARE WONDERING IF THERE MIGHT BE A MEGA SITE CREATED HERE ARE THERE ANY PLANS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW TO CREATING A MEGA SITE AND IT'S SO WHEN COULD THAT BE HAPPENING.

>> THANKS TASK.

YOU KNOW WE'RE HEARING THAT FROM A LOT OF LEADERS AND I'M SO APPRECIATIVE RIGHT IT SHOWS IN OUR NUMBERS RIGHT WE WERE ABLE TO RAMP TO A CAPACITY OF 260,001ST DOSES AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE A STEADY STATE OF A 120,000.

SO WE KNOW THERE IS MORE CAPACITY OUT THERE THAN THERE IS SUPPLY AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT THEN AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO SEE ARE THERE PLACES IN THE THE STATE THAT HAVE LESS DOSES PER POPULATION AND CAN WE GIVE THEM SOME ADDITIONAL DOSES TO TO BALANCES OUT.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE DATA FORK FOR GUILFORD TO KNOW IF THEY'RE THEY THERE IS AN IMBALANCE THERE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS BUT CERTAINLY WILL LOOK AT THAT.

I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SET UP A HIGH THROUGHPUT SITE I BELIEVE THAT GREENSBORO COLISEUM.

THERE AND SO AGAIN CAPACITY IS THERE THAT IS THAT IS TERRIFIC AND THAT IS WHERE THAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR TEAMS ABOUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.

AND THEIR EFFORTS AS AS A WHOLE RIGHT WE WANT ALL THE PARTNERS TO COME TOGETHER TO SAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THE VACCINE THAT IS ALLOCATED TO OUR COUNTY OR TO OUR REGION OUT IN A QUICK AND EQUITABLE WAY AND WE JUST WANT TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO FACILITATE THOSE AT THOSE.

ACTIVITIES AS THEY GO FORWARD SO APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY RAMPED UP TO END 10 TAKE ON MORE CAPACITY.

WE DO HAVE LIMITED SUPPLY HERE BUT STAND AT THE READY.

LIKE I SAID I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE VACCINE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO WELL DID I SHOULD SAY WELL BEYOND BEYOND THE BASELINE THAT THAT WE WILL SEE AGAIN SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED.

AND THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THE UNFORTUNATE A PLACE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, THANKS.

>> IN FOLLOW-UP.

CONTESTS BARBER FOX 8.

THANK YOU FOR THAT I HAVE A TWO-PART FOLLOW-UP QUESTION I WAS WONDERING WHAT IF ANY CHANGES ARE BEING MADE FOR A SPEEDY AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME PROVIDERS FOR HAVING CHALLENGES WITH 57 THEY WERE CALLING IT BURDEN THAT.

>> WHAT CHANGES WOULD BE MADE TO THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

I WAS ALSO WONDERING IF THE STATE IS TRACKING NOTIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS AND THEY SAID YOU KNOW WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S MAKING IT TO THOSE APPOINTMENTS.

BUT ARE YOU TRACKING PEOPLE THAT DO NOT SHOW UP FOR APPOINTMENTS AND HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THANKS TESTS FIRST ON OUR OVERALL I T SYSTEM THAT WE'RE CALLING OUR CVMS SYSTEM WHICH EVERYONE LOGS THE VACCINES.

THE BAIT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.

WE WE KNOW OBVIOUSLY IT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS WORKING BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOG OVER 800,000 VACCINATIONS BUT WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT SYSTEM AND MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AS WE GO FORWARD, SO THE NUMBER OF WAYS WE'VE DONE THAT AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO UPDATE ON THAT SYSTEM NEARLY EVERY WEEK.

SO FIRST WE WANTED TO UNLOCK.

SOME SOME FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM SO THAT LOCAL VACCINE PROVIDERS COULD GO IN AND GET SOME MORE OF THAT THE DATA THAT THEY PUT INTO TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS.

SECOND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS INTEGRATING THAT SYSTEM WITH OR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS THROUGH THE SYSTEM SO WE ARE WORKING ON A PROCESS USING OUR HEALTH EXCHANGE OR HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE TO DO THAT THAT INTEGRATION.

SO THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE WORK ON OVER THE COURSE OF OF FEBRUARY BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE ACTUALLY OPENED UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO USE DIFFERENT KINDS OF.

OF COMPUTER BOTS TO HELP WITH WITH STEALING INFORMATION AND GETTING IT DONE QUICKER THINK THAT MY MY MY LABOR AND OF UNDERSTANDING ON TO TO REALLY REDUCE THAT BURDEN ON OUR PROVIDERS OF GETTING THE DATA IN SO I THINK WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES AND WHICH ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT THAT SYSTEM OVERALL FOR FOLKS AND THEN YOU ASKED ABOUT NO SHOWS THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE TRACKING AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT IS IT IT IS EXACTLY WHY YOU KNOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE A WAIT LIST ON HAND FROM THAT PRIORITY GROUP SO THEY DO HAVE NO SHOWS AND THEY DO HAVE EXTRA VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AT THE END OF IT AND OF THE DAY WE DON'T WANT THEM WASTING WE WANT THEM TO CALL FOLKS IN AND GET GET FOLKS IN UNVACCINATED IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THANKS.

>> NEXT QUESTION WAS FROM DANIEL BIOTERROR WITH TELEMUNDO CHARLOTTE.

>> BUT THANK YOU SECRETARY COHEN OR D BUT PUT IN SOME COUNTIES LIKE GOT STONE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY THOSE SEAS ALL AT ALL THIS WEEK WITH ABOUT 600 APPOINTMENTS ALREADY BULL.

ACCORDING TO THE GUSTS OF BILL TO PARLIAMENT, THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE HE'S FROM INTEGRA FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR COUNTIES LIKE GOT THE RECEIVING END OF THOSE THE NEXT WEEK.

IN ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THE SITUATION COULD COMPROMISE THE GOLD OF 1 MILLION, BUT SEEMS FOR JULY 4.

>> SO DANIEL COUPLE OF THINGS TO TEASE APART THERE.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS COMING WEEK THAT WE WERE PARTICULARLY TIGHT ON OUR ALLOCATION BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING FROM THAT HIGH CAPACITY TO THAT TO THAT TO THE LOWER AMOUNT THAT WE HAVEN'T FIRST DOSES AND WE COMMITTED TO A LARGE VACCINATION EVENT AT PANTHER STADIUM.

THIS COMING WEEKEND SO THAT CONSTRAINED OUR ALLOCATION EVEN MORE.

BUT GOING FORWARD WE HAVE COMMITTED THAT EVERY THAT EVERY COUNTY IS GOING TO GET VACCINE GOING FORWARD AND WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE THAT BASED ON POPULATION AND THEN WE WILL DISTRIBUTE THAT THAT COUNTY ALLOCATION AMONGST THE PROVIDERS.

SO THAT WILL BE THE GO FORWARD AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CORRECT ON TOP OF THAT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING AS EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF DOSES PER COUNTY AS WELL AS LOOKING AT EQUITY FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISPANIC, LATIN X COMMUNITY AS WELL AND USE THOSE DOSES ABOVE THE 84,000 TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

THANKS.

>> NO FOLLOW-UP FROM DANIEL BUYER TO COME AND GO.

>> YES MICHAEL IT WAS ABOUT THIS PP SPENDING COMMUNITY BUT I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT QUESTION ALREADY SO.

I YOU CONCERNED THAT THE SITUATION COULD COMPROMISE THE GOAL OF 1 MILLION VACCINES FOR JULY 4TH.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR THAT AND SO I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO OF COURSE BE LIMITED BY THE NUMBER OF VACCINES COMING INTO OUR STATE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WE WANT TO GET THAT VACCINE OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND I HOPE TO BE AT A POINT OF VACCINATING YOU KNOW FOLKS AS THAT VACCINE.

I THINK IT DEPENDS MORE ON HOW MUCH VACCINE IS COMING INTO OUR STATE.

THEN IN ANY SORT OF THE ALLOCATION PROCEDURES.

I AM HOPEFUL IF WE GET ANOTHER VACCINE APPROVED I THINK THAT WILL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT BOOST TO OUR SUPPLY AS WELL AS SEEING IF THEY'RE GOING TO RAMP UP MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY.

I THINK THOSE AND MORE OF THE OR THE LIMITING STEPS ON KEN THAT I BELIEVE IT WAS THE CHARLOTTE AREA SAID THEY WANTED TO VACCINATE AND MILLION FOLKS IN IN THE MECKLENBURG AREA.

CERTAINLY WE WANT TO GET TO THOSE KINDS OF GOALS, BUT I THINK ARE LIMITING FACTOR IS HOW MUCH VACCINE IS COMING TO OUR STATE.

>> BUT NO QUESTION TODAY WILL BE FROM NBA.

BLANDFORD ABC 11.

I GOT A CALL AND I THINK FOR TAKING MY QUESTION AS YOU KNOW THAT NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT PEOPLE ARE SENDING THAT LETTER TO GOVERNOR COOPER YESTERDAY LISTING SEVERAL CONCERNS WITH THE ROLLOUT.

>> AMONG THEM HE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATION ISSUES.

HE SAID THAT HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS THAT ARE GETTING THE SHOT HAVE BEEN LARGELY LEFT OUT OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO DESIGN THE ROLLOUT AND THAT JUST RECEIVING DIRECTIVES FROM THE STATE.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT AND IF SO WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR INCLUDING THE PROVIDERS FROM THE BEGINNING ESPECIALLY BEFORE EATING IT TO THE NEXT PHASE.

VACCINATION.

>> THANKS FOR THAT ANDREA AND I WANT TO REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR VACCINE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD WE WE TAKE THEIR FEEDBACK.

AND AND DEFINITELY I THINK YOU SEE OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD INCORPORATES THEIR FEEDBACK IN IN THE PLANNING WE WERE DOING SPECIFICALLY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH WE TOUCH BASE WITH THEM I TALK OFTEN ABOUT THE FACT THAT I TALK TO YOU.

THE CEO'S OF THEM OF OUR OF ALL OF OUR LARGE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN SOME OF OUR SMALLER EACH AND EVERY WEEK.

WE ALSO HAVE A NOW A SEPARATE SUBGROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARE JUST FOCUS ON VACCINE OPERATIONS.

WE SECONDARILY HAVE ANOTHER WORK GROUP THAT'S JUST FOCUSED ON THOSE I T DATA INTEGRATION.

A PLATFORM SO OF COURSE WE WANT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WE WANT TO BE A COLLABORATIVE A POSSIBLE SO I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER GIVING US THAT FEEDBACK.

I THINK WE'VE INCORPORATED THAT INTO THE WORK GOING FORWARD, AND YOU KNOW, I'M AGAIN APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OF THE WORK PARTNERS HAVE BEEN DOING TO RESPOND TO THIS PANDEMIC FOR A YEAR AND THEN TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THIS PAST WEEK TO GET OUT 95% OF OUR FIRST DOSES.

I THINK CREDIBLE AND I'M I'M I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE'S HARD WORK.

>> A COMMUNITY.

BLANDFORD ABC 11.

>> THANK YOU JUST ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU DOCTOR COHEN, YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO NORTH CAROLINA AND OTHER STATES.

THAT'S AS VIRGINIA TO GET VACCINATED HERE IN OUR STATE REPORT SAYS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING OUT RECENTLY YOU SAID EARLIER THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE SAID THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS THE THINGS ACTING QUICKLY SAID THAT THAT MATTER WHO IS GETTING THE VACCINE IN NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE.

AND IF THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING.

WHAT IS THE STATE PLANNED FOR PRESENTING AT DO YOU SEE REQUIREMENTS CAN TO SHOW ID BEFORE GETTING A VACCINE.

THANK YOU.

>> ANDREA OBVIOUSLY OUR PRIORITIES OF VACCINATE NORTH CAROLINIANS AS WE GET AN ALLOCATION BASED ON OUR NORTH CAROLINA POPULATION THAT BEING SAID IT IS CLEAR IN OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN NOT LIMIT BY BORDERS BY JURISDICTION AND SO WE'RE CERTAINLY DOING OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND OPERATIONS TO LEAN TOWARDS PRIORITIZING NORTH CAROLINIANS BUT WE CAN NOT.

BY OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE REMEMBER THESE ARE ASSETS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PAID FOR IN OUR SHIPPING TO US.

OUR AGREEMENT IS THAT WE ARE NOT BLOCKING FOLKS FROM A JURISDICTIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

AGAIN I THINK THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE USING OUR COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS IN OUR OPERATIONAL TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRAYERS HIGHS IN NORTH CAROLINIANS BUT WE BOTH ASKED FOR FOLKS NOT TO DO THE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE.

THEY'RE THEY'RE BEING OPEN ACROSS COUNTY BORDERS AND OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT.

FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE ELIGIBILITY CATEGORY ARE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED AND AGAIN WE'RE VACCINATING ALL HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THOSE WHO ARE AGES 65 AND UP RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S IT'S BEEN A LONG BRIEFING WITH A LOT OF DETAILED INFORMATION.

I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT OUR NEW DASHBOARD WITH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.

I ALSO THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROVIDER LETTER THAT OUTLINES A LOT OF THESE DETAILS I WENT THROUGH A LOT.

TODAY I WANT TO THANK OUR PART.

I KNOW I'VE DONE A LOT OF THANK YOUS.

BUT THEY SO DESERVE IT TO OUR OUR LOCAL PARTNERS OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, OR HOSPITALS OR F QH SEASON, OTHERS.

OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PARTNERS HAVE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE AND THEY'VE BEEN INCREDIBLE FOR A YEAR.

IT IS IT HAS BEEN A LONG YEAR AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN WE CAN TAKE THE STEPS FORWARD ON ON TOP OF A HARD YEAR HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WHAT IS NEEDED.

FOR US TO BEAT THIS PANDEMIC AND WE WILL DO THAT TOGETHER ONE TEAM ONE MISSION ONE FAMILY.

STAY WELL, EVERYONE.