We are writing to provide an update on the vaccine priority framework in North Carolina. Today, the NC Department of Health and Human Services published a new, simplified set of priority groupings: 

Group 1: Health Care Workers and Long-term Care Staff and Residents
Group 2: Older Adults (65 and older)
Group 3: Frontline Essential Workers
Group 4: Adults at High Risk for Exposure and Increased Risk and Illness
Group 5: Everyone

There are several changes to the framework that impact our community, including:

1. If you are 65 or older, you now qualify to be vaccinated under Group 2, which is currently activated. To be vaccinated as a member of this priority group, you will need to register yourself (i.e., the University will not provide your name to health officials if you qualify under this priority grouping).  
2. As far as we know, “education” continues to be included in the Frontline Essential Workers category, but this is now Group 3. Because the number of individuals who qualify based on their age for Group 2 is now larger, we anticipate that it will take longer for members of Group 3 to have access to the vaccine.

Additional information on the new priority framework is available through NC DHHS.  

To find vaccine clinic locations, please visit Find Your Spot. Please be aware that both the Cone Health System and Guilford County Public Health are operating as vaccine providers with separate and distinct registration processes. We recommend that you check their websites periodically as availability of the vaccine and clinic locations, dates, and times are subject to change.

We will continue to provide updates on the vaccine process as new or revised information becomes available. If you have specific questions regarding your own health status and the vaccine, please contact your health care provider directly.