Editor’s note: Wake County Public Health will host a media availability at a mass vaccination clinic on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Details will be shared next week.

Wake County Public Health welcomes Group 3: Frontline Essential Workers in a school or child care setting to request a COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, February 22. Those eligible under Group 3 will start receiving their shots on Wednesday, February 24. To be considered for this first wave of Group 3: Frontline Essential Workers in a school or child care setting, you must work in-person for your employer or anticipate an imminent return to an in-person work setting.

“The county has been working hard to ensure that we will be prepared to start delivering doses to educators and child care professionals on the first possible day,” said Matt Calabria, Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “We are ready. Starting Monday, the people who have been working so hard to educate and care for our children will be able to sign up for their shots by phone and on our website.”

How the Process Works

On Monday, Feb. 22, Wake County will update the easy online vaccine request form at WakeGov.com/vaccine. Anyone needing assistance using the form can call our Vaccine Hotline at 888-675-4567, seven days a week. Wake County Public Health will continue to vaccinate healthcare workers and those 65 and older.

The questions on the form will include:

Are you 65 years old or older?

Are you a healthcare worker?

Do you work in Child Care or a Pre-K to Grade 12 school?

Do you have to be in-person at your place of work?

As supply allows, eligible requesters will be notified via email, phone or text that it’s their turn to receive the vaccine. They will then make an appointment online or over the phone to get the shot at a convenient date and time.

How the Process Works: Getting the Shot

Wake County Public Health has been vaccinating approximately 2,000 people a day through its three mass vaccination sites.

“We’re continuing to throw our entire vaccination playbook at this effort, including sending our vaccine strike teams into the community, but the fastest and most efficient way to get shots into the arms of  our teachers, school and child care staff will be through our indoor and outdoor mass vaccination sites,” said Ryan Jury, the Wake County Vaccine Branch Director. “That means they need to take a few minutes to fill our brief request form, so we can collect their information and contact them immediately to make an appointment once we have supply.”

Current vaccine clinics at PNC Arena, the Wake County Public Health Center and the Wake County Commons Building offer appointments six days a week and during evening hours. The appointment-only system allows people to sign up for a half-hour slot and avoid long waits in line. Most all Group 1 or 2 recipients have reported that they enjoyed a fast, efficient and friendly experience.

Second shot appointments are made immediately following the first dose while on site at the vaccination clinic, so vaccine recipients walk away with the assurance they have a place and time to return to complete their vaccination series.

Wake County Public Health is only one of a growing list of state-approved vaccine providers in the county. The others include Duke Health, UNC/REX Health, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, and numerous local pharmacies. These providers are working closely together to vaccinate the public against COVID-19 and help keep our community healthy and safe.

Questions about COVID-19 vaccines can continue to be directed to the hotline – 888-675-4567 – or by emailing covid19.questions@wake.gov.