8 UCW FEBRUARY 3-9, 2021
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Cohen urges patience as vaccine
rollout slowly accelerates
by JOHN TRUMP
JOHN TRUMP, Carolina Journal News
Service. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.
State health secretary Dr.
Mandy Cohen updated re-
porters Jan. 21 about the state
of COVID-19 vaccinations in
North Carolina.
She said the state is acceler-
ating the rate in which people
are vaccinated, so far admin-
istering more than 569,000
doses, she said, representing
a133% increase over recent
weeks and ranking the state
10th in the nation in total
doses administered. State of-
ficials, including Cohen and
Gov. Roy Cooper, have been
the targets of criticism for the
slow rollout of the vaccines.
She says state officials are
constrained by supplies.
Health providers are using
all first doses available,
she said.
"Those first doses need to
get off the shelf and given to
people each and every week."
The first couple of ques-
tions from reporters focused
on the Biden administration
and how it would affect vac-
cines in North Carolina.
It's mostly too early to tell.
Cohen, for her part, com-
mended the president for
his mask mandate, requiring
them on federal property.
She says masks are the best
way to stop the spread of the
disease.
COVID cases in North Caro-
lina, though still too high, are
stabilizing, she said.
North Carolina's approach
to the vaccine differs from
other states, including the
practice of distributing it as
evenly as possible, building
capacity everywhere rather
than focusing on large popu-
lations, Cohen said.
An overarching frustration,
though, hangs over the state
as many people struggle to
learn how, when and where
they can get vaccinated.
She advised people to start
with local hospitals and
health departments to get
vaccines, reminding people
they aren't restricted to their
home county. She preached
patience.
Cohen also announced a
free ride program for people
traveling to health providers
for a vaccine. Administered
by the N.C. Department of
Transportation, some $2.5
million from COVID relief
money will go toward fund-
ing the program, which will
cover about 30,000 people,
Eric Boyette, state transporta-
tion secretary, said.
Nevertheless, it will be
several months before most
North Carolinians are vac-
cinated, Cohen said. Of the
state's 100 counties, 86 are in
the "red," which, says Cohen,
means significant spread.
L O C A L V E T E R A N O W N E D B U S I N E S S
Westwood: 439 Westwood Shopping Center
910.860.1220 | theupsstorelocal.com/2974
Fort Bragg: Fort Bragg Mini-Mall
910.436.7877 | theupsstorelocal.com/4787
Print/Sign Shop
The UPS Store
Thanks for choosing us!
ANYTHING!
We Print, Pack & Ship!
We
love our
Customers
Signs • Banners • Business Cards
• Digital & Wide Format Printing
• Notary Services
• Mailbox Solutions
• UPS/USPS Shipping
• Packaging Material/Supplies
• Teacher Discounts • Stickers
• Magnets • Acrylic Photos
• Custom Puzzles
• Military, AAA,
& AARP discounts
AND MUCH MORE!
NEWS
Although state health officials report that North Carolina is accelerating COVID-19 vaccination
rates, many citizens are frustrated with delays and lack of information on how, when and where to
get vaccinated.
