>> COMING UP ON COVID UNCOVERED: >> I WAS RELIEVED TO GET IT OVER WITH.

LET'S GET THE VACCINE, GET IT OVER WITH.

STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS ARE FOCUSING ON MASS VACCINATION CLINICS TO TRY TO TURN THE CORNER ON A SLOW ROLLOUT OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, OR WAS HE GOING TO START SHOWING SYMPTOMS EVENTUALLY.

>> AND WITH MANY STUDENTS RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING THIS WEEK, WE LOOK AT THE LATEST ON HOW COVID-19 IS IMPACTING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

♪ >> WELCOME TO COVID UNCOVERED.

I'M DAVID HURST.

COVID-19 NUMBERS ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS WE CONTINUE TO RECOVER FROM THE POST-HOLIDAY SURGE.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE COVID-19 DASHBOARD.

THESE ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS AS OF WEDNESDAY.

KELLY MCCULLEN HAS MORE ON THE NATIONWIDE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

>> NORTH CAROLINA'S COVID INFECTION TREND REMAINS FAVORABLE THIS WEEK AS HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE DROPPING AS DO INFECTION RATES IN GENERAL.

NATIONWIDE, MODERNA SAYS IT SUPPLIED 45 MILLION COVID VACCINES TO THE U.S., BUT CITY AND STATE LEADERS REGIONALLY SAY WINTER WEATHER IS HAMPERING VACCINE ROLLOUT THIS WEEK.

>> THIS WEATHER IS GOING TO SLOW DOWN OUR VACCINATION SOME SIMPLY GOING TO BE TOO MUCH SNOW.

>> NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO IS DEFENDING DATA REPORTING ON COVID DEATHS IN NEW YORK'S NURSING HOMES.

AN AIDE TO THE GOVERNOR ADMITTED THE ADMINISTRATION WITHHELD SOME NURSING HOME DEATH INFORMATION FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

>> TO BE CLEAR, ALL THE DEATHS IN THE NURSING HOMES AND IN THE HOSPITALS WERE ALWAYS FULLY, PUBLICLY, AND ACCURATELY REPORTED.

>> MEANWHILE OVER 1 MILLION NEW YORKERS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR SECOND DOSE OF VACCINE COMPARED TO 750,000 NORTH CAROLINIANS.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY VACCINE SUPPLIES WILL DICTATE THE STATE'S SPEED OF ADMINISTERED VACCINATIONS.

FOR COVID UNCOVERED, I'M KELLY MCCULLEN.

>> PARENTING IN A PANDEMIC CAN BE DIFFICULT.

AND THINGS CAN GET COMPLICATED IF YOUR CHILD TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

EVAN HOWELL HOW REPORTS ON HOW FAMILIES AND DOCTORS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP KIDS SAFE FROM THIS VIRUS.

>> CAN THEY GO ON THE BUILDING?

>> MM-HM.

>> YEAH?

>> JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS JILLIAN CURTIS'S 5 YEAR-OLD SON TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THE POSITIVE TEST MADE THE FUQUAY-VARINA MOTHER WORRIED ABOUT THE RISK TO HER FAMILY OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

>> IT'S JUST ALL OF THE UNKNOWNS WHERE WHAT THE MAJOR ANXIETY WAS WE DIDN'T KNOW.

>> THE CURTIS FAMILY BELIEVES COHEN WAS EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS AT HIS PRESCHOOL.

THE 5 YEAR-OLD WASN'T SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS AND JILLIAN AND HER HUSBAND BOTH TESTED NEGATIVE.

>> ALMOST DIDN'T BELIEVE IT AT FIRST BECAUSE HE REALLY DID SEEM OKAY AND THEN THAT MADE YOU WONDER, HOW SUSCEPTIBLE WE WERE TO IT IF HE'S NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS, ALSO HIM AND HIS LITTLE BROTHER SHARE ROOM, SO, DO YOU SPLIT THEM UP?

>> THE OTHER CHALLENGE CURTIS FACED WAS HOW TO EXPLAIN ALL OF IT TO COHEN TERMS THAT HE COULD UNDERSTAND.

>> WE JUST TOLD HIM YOU KNOW YOU HAVE GERMS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK AND STAY IN OUR HOUSE AND WE'LL HAVE FUN HERE AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS CAN COME AFTER WE MAKE SURE THERE ARE GERMS ARE GONE AND WE'VE CLEANED OUR HOUSE, SO JUST TRY TO USE TERMS THAT HE UNDERSTOOD AND NOT MAKE HIM FEEL LIKE IT WAS HIS FAULT.

>> ANY OF THOSE PATIENTS ON THE HIGH SIDE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO LEAVE TODAY?

>> FOR BENNY JOYNER AT UNC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, HE SAYS MOST KIDS WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 ARE LIKE COHEN AND SUFFER VERY MILD OR NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL, BUT THERE ARE SOME CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE COMPLICATIONS, AND THE CHALLENGE IS HOW TO KEEP FAMILIES CLOSE YET SAFE DURING THEIR HOSPITAL STAY.

>> PART OF OUR CREATIVE STRATEGY IS ALLOWING THE FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE IN THE ROOM, THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN EXPOSED, BUT THEY CAN'T LEAVE THE ROOM.

THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE UNDERSTANDABLY.

BUT A LOT OF PARENTS OF APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE ROOMS WITH THEIR CHILD AND SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST THING FOR US.

>> JOYNER SAYS CREATING A PEDIATRIC RESPONSE PLAN RESTS NOT ON JUST MEDICAL TREATMENT, BUT THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF ITS YOUNG PATIENTS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND WAS THAT IT PROVIDED A LOT OF REASSURANCE FOR THIS ANXIOUS CHILD ALREADY BECAUSE HE COULD BE THERE WITH HIS MOM I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE PROVIDING CARE TO THIS YOU KNOW ALERT COGENT CHILD WITHOUT HAVING YOU KNOW A MOM THERE TO BE ABLE TO HELP US CALM HIM DOWN.

>> FOR JILLIAN CURTIS, SHE SAYS SHE'S FORTUNATE THAT HER FAMILY SURVIVE THEIR COVID SCARE WITHOUT A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL.

BUT IT'S OPENED HER EYES TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS VIRUS AND SHE'S EAGER FOR THE VACCINE TO BECOME MORE READILY AVAILABLE.

I TRY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND THAT'S IN MY CIRCLE OF CONTROL THAT CAN KEEP MY FAMILY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT WE JUST TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

>> AND WITH US NOW IS DOCTOR CHARLENE WONG, A PEDIATRICIAN AT DUKE UNIVERSITY.

DOCTOR WONG THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO LET'S START FIRST WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE.

HOW OFTEN ARE YOU SEEING CHILDREN WHO HAVE CORONAVIRUS RELATED SYMPTOMS?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A STEADY PACE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WITH PARENTS BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN IN WITH SYMPTOMS THAT COULD BE THE CORONAVIRUS ILLNESS.

OF COURSE THE SYMPTOMS THAT THE CORONAVIRUS PRESENTS WITH OUR VERY COMMON AMONG THE MANY COLDS THAT KIDS GET YEAR AROUND CERTAINLY IN THE WINTER SEASON.

WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK AS WE USUALLY DO THOUGH IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO SEE.

IT REALLY SHOWS THAT THE MASKS AND PRACTICING OUR 3 W'S IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE CAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING NEARLY AS MUCH FLU AND THE OTHER COMMON COLDS WE SEE IN THE WINTER.

>> AND DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO TRANSMIT THIS VIRUS IF THEY DO GET IT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SCIENTISTS WHO CONTINUE TO STUDY THIS.

THERE ARE COUPLE OF THOUGHTS HERE.

ONE IS THAT WHEN THE VIRUS COMES INTO OUR BODIES, IT HAS TO ATTACH TO A RECEPTOR IN OUR RESPIRATORY OR BREATHING TRACTS.

AND ONE HYPOTHESIS OR IDEA IS THAT KIDS HAVE LESS OF THOSE RECEPTORS AND SO THAT'S ONE IDEA.

A SECOND IS I WAS JUST MENTIONING, KIDS GET EXPOSED TO VIRUSES ALL THE TIME AND THE FAMILY OF CORONAVIRUSES IS ACTUALLY A VERY COMMON ONE THAT CAUSES OUR USUAL COMMON COLDS WHEN WE'RE NOT IN A PANDEMIC.

SO ANOTHER THOUGHT HIS KIDS MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN EXPOSED TO THESE OTHER CORONAVIRUSES MORE RECENTLY AND SO THEY'RE JUST LESS AFFECTED.

AND THE FINAL IDEA IS THAT THE WAY THAT KID'S IMMUNE SYSTEMS REACT TO THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19 IS JUST DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY OUR ADULT BODIES DO IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT A LESS SEVERE ILLNESS FOR THEM.

>> AND THIS IDEA THAT CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO TRANSMIT THE DISEASE IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SCHOOLS ARE REOPENING IN SOME PARTS OF OUR STATE.

WE HAD THIS REOPEN VERSUS STAY VIRTUAL DEBATE LAST SUMMER, WE'RE HAVING IT HERE AGAIN.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE THIS TIME AROUND IS THAT BACK IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR WHEN ALL THE SCHOOLS WERE SHUTTING DOWN WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IN THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR WE COULD REOPEN.

WE HAD VERY LITTLE DATA.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SCIENCE TO HELP INFORM THAT.

WE NOW HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND EVIDENCE FROM THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD AND EVEN SPECIFICALLY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT REALLY DEMONSTRATES THAT IT IS SAFE TO REOPEN SCHOOLS, BOTH FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF.

AND WE KNOW WHICH OF THOSE PREVENTION OR MITIGATION MEASURES THAT SCHOOLS CAN PUT INTO PLACE LIKE THE MASKS THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THAT REALLY MAKE IT SAFE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF AT SCHOOLS TO BE IN SCHOOL.

>> AND WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT THESE NEW VARIANTS ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY HOW DIFFERENT DO THESE VARIANTS AFFECT CHILDREN VERSUS ADULTS?

DO WE KNOW?

>> IN GENERAL, I WOULD SAY WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN WE HAVE ANSWERS ABOUT THESE VARIANTS AND I GUESS I'LL START BY SAYING WE'RE NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THESE VARIANTS.

THIS IS WHAT VIRUSES AND BACTERIA.

THIS IS WHAT INFECTIONS DO.

THEY CHANGE, THEY HAVE THESE LITTLE CHANGES THAT ACCUMULATE OVER TIME.

I THINK CERTAINLY NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THESE VARIANTS THAT SPREAD MORE EASILY THAT MIGHT BE MORE SEVERE IF YOU GET THEM, IS CONCERNING.

I THINK THAT HOW THESE VARIANTS - AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE OF THEM THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYE ON - HOW THEY AFFECT CHILDREN IS STILL SOMETHING THAT IS BEING STUDIED AND AGAIN THERE ARE MULTIPLE OF THEM NOW ONE THAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE UK VARIANT ONE THAT'S THE SOUTH AFRICA VARIANT.

WE EXPECT THERE WILL BE MORE OF THEM AND SO IT WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT CONTINUE TO KEEP TRACK OF THOSE OVER TIME.

I THINK RIGHT NOW THE GUIDANCE IS STILL VERY CONSISTENT IN THAT THE WAY TO PROTECT OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN, IS TO PRACTICE THOSE 3 W'S WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS, WAIT AT LEAST 6 FEET APART AND THAT PROTECTS YOU ALSO AGAINST THESE VARIANTS.

>> AND THE QUESTION I'M SURE MANY PARENTS AT HOME ARE WONDERING HOW SAFE OR WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE SAFE FOR MY CHILD TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE?

>> YES, THE COVID-19 VACCINES RIGHT NOW OF COURSE ARE ROLLING OUT ACROSS OUR STATE AND THE COUNTRY, ONE OF THE VACCINES, THE PFIZER VACCINE, CAN ALREADY BE GIVEN TO TEENAGERS AGE 16 AND UP.

THERE ARE TRIALS THAT HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED ENROLLMENT FOR CHILDREN AGED 12 TO 15 AND SO WELL SO WE EXPECT SOME DATA ON THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS.

HOPEFULLY WE SEE THAT THOSE VACCINES WORK TO PREVENT THIS ILLNESS AND ALSO ARE VERY SAFE IN OUR MIDDLE AGE CHILDREN IT'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME TIME AND THERE WILL BE TRIALS STARTING IN YOUNGER CHILDREN DOWN TO AGE 5.

BUT IT DOES TAKE SOME MONTHS FOR THOSE TRIALS TO FIND ENOUGH CHILDREN TO ENROLL TO HAVE THEM GO THROUGH PROCESS AND SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.

SO I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE SOME CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE THE NEXT ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR.

AND SO MUCH OF IT WILL REALLY DEPEND ON WHAT WE SEE OUT OF THESE CLINICAL TRIALS, BUT WE CERTAINLY HOPE THESE VACCINES HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO WORK VERY WELL IN ADULTS AND BE VERY SAFE.

WE HOPE THAT THE SAME, HOPE AND EXPECT THAT THE SAME WILL BE TRUE FOR CHILDREN AS WELL.

>> DOCTOR WONG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR EXPERTISE ON THE TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE RETURNED TO IN PERSON LEARNING THIS WEEK.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PUTTING IN PLACE SAFETY MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

I VISITED NORTH CAROLINA A&T WHERE GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE COMING UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO DO TEMPERATURE CHECKS IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS.

>> WITH STUDENTS RETURNING TO IN PERSON LEARNING, MANY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE WILL BE CONDUCTING DAILY TEMPERATURE CHECKS.

>> PRETTY MUCH IT'S THE NORM THAT YOU WALK IN SOMEONE GIVES YOU A THERMAL CHECK WITH THE STANDARD INFRARED THERMOMETER AND THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO YOU.

THEY HAVE TO GET WITHIN A FOOT OR 2 OF THE PERSON THEY'RE CHECKING.

AND SO WE WANT TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS THAT WERE MORE REMOTE, >> THIS IS THE AGGIE ARM.

>> THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE STATE GRADUATE STUDENTS AT NC A&T STATE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP 3 PROTOTYPES THAT USE THERMAL IMAGING TO REMOTELY MEASURE BODY TEMPERATURES.

>> THE ADVANTAGES OF THESE SYSTEMS IS THEY CAN BE THE REMOTE FACTOR, IS THEY CAN TEST PEOPLE REMOTELY SO THE PERSON ACTUALLY CONDUCTING THE TEST DOESN'T COME INTO CONTACT WITH INDIVIDUALS BEING TESTED FOR THEIR TEMPERATURE.

>> WHEN IT DETECTS AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE FULL COST OF THE CAMERA, >> THE 3 PROTOTYPES COVER 3 DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, ONE HAS A ROBOTIC ARM, ONE IS MOUNTED TO A WALL OR TRIPOD, AND ANOTHER USES AN INTERCOM SYSTEM SO IT CAN BE PLACED OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.

[RINGING] THE PROTOTYPES WERE ALSO CREATED WITH AFFORDABILITY IN MIND.

LOW END FEVER DETECTION SYSTEMS CURRENTLY COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

GRADUATE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO CREATE EACH OF THESE PROTOTYPES FOR LESS THAN $500.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROTOTYPES WE DEVELOPED - WE HAD A PRICE POINT THAT WAS AFFORDABLE FOR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS.

>> THE UNIVERSITY CANNOT SELL THE DEVICES, BUT ARE ABLE TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SAFER AND MORE COST EFFICIENT WAY TO CHECK TEMPERATURES.

>> OUR SCHOOLS ARE RE-OPENING.

WE CAN GIVE ADVICE ON HOW IT CAN BE INSTALLED IN VARIOUS CAMPUSES FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS TO USE AND IN SO DOING I BELIEVE IT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP THE PANDEMIC SITUATION.

WE NEED TO TAKE THE TEMPERATURE .. >> AND PROFESSORS SAY THIS WAS AN ENTIRELY STUDENT LED PROJECT, WHICH MEANS IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK GOOD ON THE RESUME AS THEY GET READY TO GRADUATE AND FIND JOBS.

>> THEY HAVE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE ON BUILDING BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT, BRAND NEW PROTOTYPES.

SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP THEM IN THEIR CAREERS.

>> AND JOINING ME NOW IS TAMIKA WALKER KELLY, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS.

TAMIKA I IMAGINE THIS WEEK HAS BEEN BUSY FOR YOU SO THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO EVEN WITH PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN PLACE LIKE TEMPERATURE CHECKS THAT WE JUST SAW, HOW HESITANT HAVE TEACHERS BEEN TO RETURN TO SCHOOL THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, DAVID, WE KNOW THAT COVID IS A DEADLY VIRUS AND IT HAS COST THE LIVES OF EDUCATORS HERE IN OUR STATE AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT EVEN IF PEOPLE DO RECOVER FROM COVID THEY HAVE LONG-TERM LASTING EFFECTS AND SO OUR EDUCATORS ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT CATCHING THE VIRUS AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THEIR SAFETY WHEN THEY RETURN TO MORE IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AND STUDENTS AS WELL.

>> AND SO LAST WEEK THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINE BEGINNING FEBRUARY 24TH.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE ROLLOUT?

>> SO WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR RE-PRIORITIZED EDUCATORS AND IS COMMITTED TO A MORE SAFER IN PERSON INSTRUCTION.

WE DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROLLOUT AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND DHHS PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER VACCINE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT EDUCATORS ARE ONE, ABLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO GET VACCINATED AND TWO, MAKE SURE THAT PLACES ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE VACCINES DIRECTLY TO EDUCATORS.

>> AND ALSO LAST WEEK RIGHT HERE ON THIS PROGRAM, DOCTOR MANDY COHEN SAID VACCINATING TEACHERS IS NOT A PREREQUISITE FOR GETTING BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

THE CDC WITH THEIR GUIDELINES ECHO THAT STATEMENT.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE CDC GUIDELINES SAY THAT EDUCATORS SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR VACCINATIONS ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE RETURNING TO IN PERSON INSTRUCTION, AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WITH OTHER ENTITIES.

WE KNOW THAT 25 OTHER STATES DID PRIORITIZE EDUCATORS AND WE'RE GLAD NORTH CAROLINA IS NOW BEGINNING TO DO THE SAME THING BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR EDUCATORS WANT TO BE BACK IN PERSON WITH STUDENTS TO CONTINUE IN PERSON LEARNING.

>> AND HOW MUCH WILL HAVING ACCESS TO THE VACCINE PUT STAFF AND TEACHERS AT EASE AS THEY RE-ENTER THE CLASSROOM?

>> YOU KNOW THE VACCINES ARE AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF A LAYERED APPROACH TO MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT.

WE HAVE TO EDUCATORS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN PERSON SINCE AUGUST AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LESS SAFE AND THE VACCINE PROVIDES THEM WITH ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY.

FOR PEOPLE RETURNING TO MORE IN PERSON INSTRUCTION THIS MONTH AND LATER ON IN THE YEAR, IT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH A SENSE OF STABILITY AND SAFETY AS WELL.

>> AND TAMIKA I'M SURE YOU KNOW THERE'S A BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO OFFER IN PERSON INSTRUCTION, THAT'S GOING THROUGH OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AT THE MOMENT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT BILL?

>> WE KNOW THAT SENATE BILL 37 IS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC.

ONE BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY LOCAL CONTROL FROM SCHOOL BOARDS.

IT DOESN'T CONSIDER THE RESOURCES OR SYSTEMS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TRANSPARENT ENFORCEMENT OF OUR SAFETY STRATEGIES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES, AND IT LEAVES OUT THE VOICES OF EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES AND DECISION MAKERS ON A LOCAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE DATA DRIVEN, DISTRICT LEVEL PLANS, AND SO IT IS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC AND WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS AT ALL.

>> WELL TAMIKA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INSIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> VACCINATIONS CONTINUED WEDNESDAY AT RALEIGH'S PNC ARENA, THE COUNTY HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE OUT THOUSANDS OF VACCINES AT THESE MASS VACCINATION CLINICS.

WE GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT HOW COUNTY LEADERS ARE ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

JOSHUA SENEGAL HAS THE STORY.

>> BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE PARKING LOT AT PNC ARENA WOULD HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH BASKETBALL OR HOCKEY FANS ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS.

BUT IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, IT'S BEEN FULL OF PEOPLE LIKE DANIEL HILLARD EAGER TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

>> I WAS RELIEVED TO GET IT OVER WITH.

LET'S GET THE VACCINE AND GET IT OVER WITH.

>> THE 67 YEAR-OLD SPENT WEEKS TRYING TO GET A VACCINE APPOINTMENT, DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LUCK.

THEN HE GOT AN E-MAIL SAYING THERE WERE AVAILABLE SLOTS AT THE PNC ARENA MASS VACCINATION CLINIC.

>> I'M NO REAL OUT AND ABOUT PERSON, ESPECIALLY LATELY THE WAY THINGS, ARE SO I DON'T HAVE A BIG CONCERN ABOUT GETTING IT.

BUT ONCE THE OPPORTUNITY CAME UP, SURE, LET'S GO.

>> HILLARD WAS ONE OF ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE WHO GOT THE VACCINE AT PNC LAST THURSDAY AND SATURDAY.

LAKE COUNTY RECEIVED EVEN MORE DOSES THIS WEEK, SO THEY'RE HOLDING ANOTHER VACCINATION EVENT FROM WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY.

THEY'RE EXPECTED TO GIVE ANOTHER 3,000 APPOINTMENT ONLY VACCINES.

WAKE COUNTY IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY VACCINE THEY RECEIVE FINDS AN ARM WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT UP AND THAT IS WHAT SETS THE SPEED OF VACCINATION WAIT TIME.

>> WAKE COUNTY LEADERS LOOKED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS FOR A MASS VACCINATION CLINIC, BUT PNC ARENA MADE THE MOST SENSE.

>> THIS SITE IS CENTRALLY LOCATED, IT'S VERY WELL KNOWN TO EVERYONE, BUT IT HAS ADEQUATE SPACE AND IT'S ALSO DESIGNED TO BE A HIGH THROUGHPUT SITE.

SO JUST IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ADMINISTERING THOUSANDS OF VACCINES RIGHT HERE, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY.

>> AFTER THEY LANDED ON A LOCATION, COUNTY OFFICIALS SPENT 3 WEEKS FIGURING OUT LOGISTICS LIKE DIRECTING TRAFFIC, STAFFING NEEDS, AND BACKUP PLANS FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER.

>> SO AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME ARE ONLY USING ABOUT A 3RD OF THE PARKING LOT HERE.

SO WHAT EXCITES ME IS IF WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL DOSAGES AS THE STATE'S ALLOCATION GO UP AND THEIR ALLOCATIONS TO US GO UP, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN A 1000 A DAY HERE OR MAYBE RUN MULTIPLE DAYS TO AGAIN HAVE A QUICK OPERATION, VACCINES COME TO US, WE GET THEM OUT TO THE PEOPLE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

>> DANIEL HILLARD SAYS EVERYTHING RAN SMOOTHLY FOR HIM AS HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE LINE IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.

>> HAVE A GOOD DAY!

>> HE'LL BE BACK IN A FEW WEEKS FOR A SECOND DOSE AND THEN HE SAYS IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE.

>> I'M GOING TO HIT A BAR.

[LAUGHS] >> I'M GONNA DRINK A BEER YEAH, I HAVEN'T DRUNK A BEER IN A BAR IN ALMOST A YEAR.

IT'S BEEN CLOSE TO A YEAR.

>> AND WITH US NOW IS DOCTOR LEAH DEVLIN SHE'S THE CO-CHAIR OF THE NC COVID-19 VACCINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

DOCTOR DEVLIN THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU DAVID GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> SO WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THESE VACCINATION CLINICS ACROSS OUR STATE.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THESE TYPES OF EVENTS?

>> WELL FIRST DAVID, LET ME SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS TO HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE AVAILABLE TO HAVE A MASS VACCINATION CLINIC, SO THAT'S ONE LIMITING FACTOR.

THESE ARE GREAT STRATEGIES THEY SIMPLIFY THE COMMUNICATIONS WHERE TO GO, HOW TO GET YOUR VACCINE, GET IN LINE, THEY LOGISTICALLY MOVE YOU THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY, SO THEY CAN DO A LOT OF VACCINES IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

AND THAT MAKES IT LOOK EASY, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PLANNING THAT GOES INTO THIS.

BUT IT'S A GREAT STRATEGY AND WE'LL SEE MORE OF THESE AS MORE VACCINES BECOME AVAILABLE.

>> AND WITH THE VACCINE SUPPLY IT'S STILL FAR OUTPACING DEMAND WHAT'S CAUSING THE SHORTAGE?

>> SO THE SHORTAGES ARE ACTUALLY ON THE MANUFACTURING END AND OUR MANUFACTURERS ARE DOING ALL THAT THEY CAN TO PRODUCE AS MUCH VACCINE AS THEY CAN.

WE HOPE TO SEE MORE VACCINES COMING INTO ALL OF THE STATES IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AS NEW VACCINES ARE APPROVED.

WE HAVE THE J AND J VACCINE AND PERHAPS ASTRAZENECA AND NOVAVAX COMING ON LINE AFTER THAT, WE HAVE NEW CONTRACTS WITH PFIZER AND MODERNA WHICH ARE ALREADY BEING USED.

SO MORE VACCINE IS ON THE WAY, SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS.

>> AND WITH THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, THE FDA HAS A MEETING NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS THAT.

HOW MUCH WILL HAVING ANOTHER VACCINE ON THE MARKET HELP WITH SOME OF THE SUPPLY ISSUES?

>> SO EVERY NEW VACCINE THAT COMES ON LINE IS GOING TO BE ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL.

WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN NORTH CAROLINA IN TERMS OR IMMUNIZING THE POPULATION WITH THE DOSES WE HAVE.

WE'VE GOTTEN OUT 100% OF THE FIRST DOSE AND AROUND 83% OF THOSE SECOND DOSES SO ONCE WE HAVE IT IN THIS STATE, WE KNOW HOW TO USE IT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO USE IT.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THE PRIMARY CARE CENTERS, THE HOSPITALS, OTHER PARTNERS OF THE - YOU KNOW THE WALGREENS PROGRAM, LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM WE'RE REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB IN OUR STATE.

WE'RE JUST SIMPLY LIMITED BY THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE THAT WE HAVE.

>> AND SO NORTH CAROLINA'S WORKING THROUGH ITS PRIORITY GROUPS, PHASE 3 BEGINS NEXT WEEK.

WHEN YOU THINK THE VACCINE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC?

>> WELL YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT DAVID.

WE DO HAVE 5 PHASES THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING, 5 GROUPS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON MEETING OUR POPULATION THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT BY SPRING WILL BE MOVING INTO SOME OF THE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE HAVING TO WAIT RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW IN MARCH WE'RE GOING TO BE OPENING UP INTO GROUP THREE, TEACHERS WILL ALREADY BE ELIGIBLE BY THE END OF FEBRUARY I THINK FEBRUARY 24TH SO WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THOSE GROUPS, WE SHOULD HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF VACCINE BY LATE SPRING AND CERTAINLY BY THE END OF JULY WE HAD THAT WE HAVE AS MANY VACCINES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND WANTED TO GET THEM, IT'S REALLY REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR POPULATION, AND WE WANT TO REALLY ADD TO THAT WE HAVE A REALLY STRONG FOCUS IN NORTH CAROLINA ON REACHING THE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED OR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE AND A VERY IMPORTANT ONE THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

I BELIEVE WE'RE REACHING ABOUT 18% OF MINORITY POPULATIONS NOW IN OUR STATE, WE NEED TO DO BETTER, AND SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES THAT WILL BE PUT IN PLACE TO GO INTO COMMUNITY TO TAKE VACCINE INTO POPULATIONS WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK PLAY, AND PRAY.

WE'LL BE COMING ONLINE AS MORE VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE STATE AS WELL.

>> AND REAL BRIEFLY DOCTOR WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THESE VACCINES REACT TO SOME OF THE VARIANTS THAT WERE SEEING?

>> WELL SO FAR WITH PFIZER AND MODERNA VERY PROTECTIVE AGAINST THE BRITISH VARIANT.

MODERNA A LITTLE LESS SO, WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN, BUT BOTH OF THOSE, AND THE J AND J VACCINE DO PROTECT AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REALLY AFTER.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THESE VARIANTS WITH THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE.

>> DOCTOR DEVLIN, THANKS YOUR TIME AND YOUR INSIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

EXPERTS SAY THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON ONE-DOSE VACCINE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A GAMECHANGER.

THE DURHAM V-A WAS ONE OF THE CLINICAL TRIAL SITES FOR THIS VACCINE.

JEFF SMITH HAS THAT STORY.

>> WHAT WE DID IN 8 TO 9 MONTHS IS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> THE NEWS IS IMPROVING EACH WEEK ON THE RESEARCH BASE RELEASES OF NEW VACCINES TO FIGHT COVID.

HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA PARTNERSHIPS ARE IN PLACE BETWEEN DUKE, UNC AND THE VA HEALTH SYSTEM TO FIND NEW TREATMENTS.

>> WE HAVE A WONDERFUL SYSTEM THAT CAN BE LEVERAGED FOR THESE TYPES OF STUDIES AND THAT WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF HOSPITALS, MANY OF WHICH ARE RESEARCH BASED INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> JOHNSON & JOHNSON HOSTED THIS CLINICAL TRIAL.

THE SAME TIME THAT PFIZER AND MODERNA AS WELL AS ASTRAZENECA.

>> IT BECAME VERY COMPLEX AS WE WENT ALONG MAKING SURE AS WE WERE ENROLLING PEOPLE INTO THE JOHNSON STUDY THAT IF THEY WERE ON THE PLACEBO SIDE, THAT WE COULD GET THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, MANY OF THEM PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM, MAKING SURE THAT ONCE THE PFIZER AND MODERNA STUDY VACCINES BECAME AVAILABLE THAT THEY COULD IF THEY WERE IN THE PLACEBO ARM THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY THEM AND GET THEM VACCINATED SO THEY'D BE ABLE TO WORK COMFORTABLY.

>> HEALTH CARE WORKERS WERE EARLY PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRIALS AS WELL AS A LARGE GROUP OF VETERANS.

>> AS A GENERAL RULE VETERANS ARE VERY ENGAGED WITH CLINICAL RESEARCH.

THEY LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH I FOUND TO BE YOU KNOW THAT'S A REAL PRIDEFUL THING FOR THOSE OF US WORKING IN THE VA SYSTEM.

>> HAVING MULTIPLE CHOICES ALLOWS MORE PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO A VACCINE.

>> THAT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES, FOR GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT, THIS IS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND SO WE WANT TO HAVE GOOD DATA TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VACCINE WHERE IT MIGHT REACH PEOPLE WHO CAN'T TRAVEL HOURS TO GET TO A SITE THAT HAS THAT ULTRA COLD STORAGE.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET VACCINE OUT TO THE PEOPLE AND NOT NECESSARILY MAKE THEM DRIVE FOR HOURS TO GET TO A SITE AND TO WHERE THEY CAN STORE IT LOCALLY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT WEEK ON COVID: UNCOVERED >> THANK YOU DAVID.

THIS CORONAVIRUS SITUATION CHANGES ALMOST DAILY.

WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO NEXT WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO ONCE AGAIN TALK WITH DOCTOR MANDY COHEN OF DHHS AND FIND OUT THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS.

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