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Buncombe County -- Bucombe County Covid 19 Vaccine News: March 3, 2021 Update
Buncombe County Group 3 Waitlist Opening March 10
Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) has been working to ensure a smooth opening of the Group 3 waitlist on March 10, 2021. On Tuesday, March 2, Governor Roy Cooper announced the state would move to Group 3 beginning Wednesday, March 3, one week before previously stated by the Governor. Counties have the flexibility to determine if they are ready to move forward as stated in March 2 Governor briefing.
Buncombe County HHS plans to open the waitlist to remaining Group 3 of the state’s vaccination plan on Wednesday, March 10 as originally planned.
BCHHS planned improvements to the call center and waitlist based on the originally stated Group 3 opening date of March 10. BCHHS is on track with call center and waitlist upgrades that are expected to improve the end user experience. These adjustments include addressing possible surge in calls, changes to screening questions, and removal of those on the waitlist who have already received their vaccine elsewhere. In preparation for Group 3, testing and training are underway with implementation planned and on track to meet the March 10 deadline.
Stacie Saunders, BCHHS Public Health Director, reports that vaccine operations are going well and are adapting to the many changes and demands of the vaccine rollout. “We know that essential workers are critical in our community. We have been planning to launch Group 3 on March 10 and are on track to do so. In the meantime, we continue to focus on vaccinating healthcare workers, adults 65 and older, and education staff. Vaccination efforts are going well and we feel confident that Group 3 operations will be no different.”
This continues to be a community vaccine effort and other providers in the area may choose to begin vaccinating those in Group 3. Residents can visit the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website to find other vaccine providers in our area.
To get more information on vaccine distribution for Group 3 and beyond, text BCAlert to 99411. Read more about the frontline essential workers in Group 3 at the NCDHHS website.
Feb. 23, 2021 Update
Vaccine Rollout
Since Dec. 22, Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) has been vaccinating members of our community with help and support from Buncombe County Emergency Services and other partners. To date, BCHHS has administered 25,502 total vaccinations. ( as of Feb. 23, numbers above reflect current)
BCHHS is currently vaccinating individuals in Groups 1 and 2 – healthcare workers and adults 65 and older, respectively. Through BCHHS and private vaccine administration, approximately 12 percent of Buncombe County’s general population has received at least a first dose of the vaccine.
Beginning this week, the baseline allocation will be 2,340 doses. While this may seem like an increase, it is the same number of vials as the previous three weeks but is now based on the expectation of six doses per Pfizer vaccine bottle.
In addition, this week BCHHS will receive 300 additional doses from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for improving the equitable distribution of vaccine to marginalized populations. This week, BCHHS will partner with Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church and Western Carolina University to hold a vaccine event to better meet the needs of our historically marginalized populations and provide opportunities for vaccine access that otherwise may be limited for those who qualify in the active phases of adults 65 and older, health care workers and school personnel. Vaccines are available by appointment only.
If eligible for one of the vaccine groups, individuals can call 828-250-5000 or visit buncombeready.org to get on the waitlist. Buncombe County staff is currently calling individuals between numbers 10,000 and 12,000. Approximately 40,000 individuals remain on the wait list, and they are contacted in the order which they signed up. If individuals need to remove their name from the waitlist, please email ready@buncombecounty.org or call us at 828-419-0095 or 828-250-5000.
