RALEIGH, NC – A significant group of North Carolina students will be eligible for a vaccine in April, under the guidance of the State Department of Health and Human Services.
When North Carolina drafted its first COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan in October 2020, college students were cited as a priority, just ahead of the general public. When schools reopened in August, the cohort proved it was able to quickly contribute to the spread of the community and encourage outbreaks through off-campus parties.
But in January, North Carolina kicked the group off the priority list amid backlash from state legislatures and encouragement from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give a stronger preference to older adults and those who work in certain job sectors.
On Tuesday, health officials released a statement saying that college students living on campus or in another municipality can receive starting April 7, regardless of their age, health or employment status. The students will be included in phase 4b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, which also includes key workers who have not yet been vaccinated.
At a press conference on Wednesday, state health department secretary Mandy Cohen signaled that students who don’t live in a dorm or apartment would get their chance a few weeks later after those living in more compact living environments.
“We want to give priority to those in congregational settings,” Cohen said. “We know that the virus spreads the fastest there, so that’s why we give priority. I don’t think there will be a huge time difference. “
Starting Wednesday, medically vulnerable residents who have waited a long time for a vaccine and are at least 16 years old can receive an injection if they have at least one of the 18 eligible health conditions that could put them at risk for serious illness if they become infected with the virus. Those at medical risk and those who are homeless or incarcerated are the first populations to be prioritized in Stage 4a. The state is on track to qualify all remaining adults who have not yet been vaccinated by May 1.
Since the beginning of the fall semester, students have become an important transmission vector. An increase in the number of cases at UNC-Chapel Hill attracted national attention and prompted the college to discontinue personal instruction for undergraduate students after a week of class and allow students to leave their dormitory and return home.
Duke University announced this weekend that it would impose a week-long campus lockout following a string of new infections that the university has mainly blamed on fraternity activities. The number of COVID-19 cases reported last week almost matched the total number of cases registered by the university during the entire fall semester.
Duke has seen a total of 556 positive cases among college students since early 2021. UNC has reported that it has 666 infected college students this year, while North Carolina State University has seen 1,068 positive diagnoses.
Many colleges have started to make students aware of the fact that they qualify for a vaccine. At Elon University, a small private university in Alamance County, the university has a vaccine section on its website that says, “Students, staff and faculty are strongly encouraged to get the vaccine when and where it is available to them.” in dorms or apartments are eligible on April 7th.
Chris Marsicano, a professor at Davidson College and director of the College Crisis Initiative, is urging additional campuses to provide clear messages to help students understand when they qualify for vaccinations.
‘I know we’ve been telling students for months,’ Wait a minute. We are so close, ” said Marsciano. “We are really that close now. We are at the end of the fourth quarter. Wait a little longer until you can get that vaccine. “
Follow AP reporting on the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.
Anderson is a corps member of the Associated Press / Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a national nonprofit service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on hidden issues.