Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines will mostly occur in the fall unless students get vaccinated at home or around campus in the summer, epidemiology professor Audrey Pettifor said at a Campus and Community Advisory Committee meeting Thursday.
The committee met virtually to discuss current testing procedures and vaccination rollouts for UNC faculty, staff and students.
What’s new?
- Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said he believes moving all in-person classes to Feb. 8 was the right decision for the University.
- “We will have positive cases on our campus, and we will be prepared to handle them," Guskiewicz said. "We’ve now conducted over 10,000 tests as of this morning."
- Regarding complaints of long testing lines over the weekend, the Committee said changes were made to ensure testing efficiency. There are three testing centers open on and around campus: the Student Union, CURRENT ArtSpace and Rams Head Recreation Center.
- Provost Bob Blouin said UNC's campus will have "some priority" with vaccinations.
- “Orange County Health Department has been supportive of our advocacy in recategorizing faculty and campus front line workers,” he said.
- UNC School of Family Medicine professor Amir Barzin said his team is working on improving testing efficiency by implementing 30-minute testing windows in the Carolina Together Testing Program website, Hall Pass.
- Campus testing has largely been supported by line monitors, ambassadors and student volunteers, who inform participants what to do during the testing process at the testing space.
- Professor of Medicine David Weber said UNC Health has 15 vaccination centers in 12 North Carolina counties. The program has provided 55,794 vaccine doses, he said.
- Webber said UNC Health is also currently administering nearly 1,000 doses per day at the Friday Center and is continuing to expand the number of vaccinations.
What’s next?
- Webber said he suggested having a van or truck go to disadvantaged communities and provide vaccines, but logistical issues such as cold storage must be overcome before continuing with the plan.
- Getting through Group 2 of the vaccine will take about two to six weeks depending on vaccine supply, Webber said. Essential workers will be able to receive the vaccine next.
