NC Police Concerned About Vaccine Group Three Prioritization

CHARLOTTE, NC – Educators and support staff in North Carolina will soon be eligible to receive the COVID vaccine. Gov. Roy Cooper making the announcement on Wednesday during a news conference.

“Everybody deserves a vaccine,” said Cooper.

The announcement sets group three in motion, as thousands of people in group two still await the shot.

“It’s critical to get this age group vaccinated as more than 80% of our COVID-19 deaths happen to people ages 65 and up,” said Cooper.

Beginning february 24th educators and support staff can begin receiving the vaccine.. It’s about 240,000 people.

“This will include teachers, principals, child care providers, bus drivers, custodial staff, cafeteria workers and other education workers,” said Cooper.

The North Carolina Association of Educators released a statement saying in part,

“We thank Governor Cooper for listening to the overwhelming message from educators, parents, and the community that educators require vaccination priority,” wrote NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly

“You’re dealing with thousands of shots, it’s a very difficult thing to do to prioritize,” explained Cooper.

Additional front line workers, including police, can begin getting the shot on March 10th.

“What we really want is for them to move the timeline forward; to put us with teachers,” explained Yolian Ortiz, a spokesperson for the Mecklenburg county Fraternal Order of Police.

She says 60% of CMPD officers want the vaccine in order to do their jobs safely.

“They can’t go home and work from home like a lot of people can. They have to be out on the streets. They have to be patrolling. They have to be in contact with the public,” said Ortiz.

Mecklenburg county health officials said they will stick with the governor’s plan to begin vaccinating teachers in two weeks.

“I think all of our front line workers who are engaging with individuals and providing front line services are important,” said Dr. Gibbie Harris, the Mecklenburg County Health Director.

Teachers and other educators can begin registering for a vaccine appointment on Friday at 8 a.m.