Pardee UNC Health Care continues COVID-19 vaccinations, anticipates rescheduling next week’s first dose appointments

Press release from Pardee UNC Health Care: 

Pardee UNC Health Care will continue vaccination appointments scheduled through Friday, Jan. 29. As a result of recent diversion efforts by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Pardee, like many other vaccine providers in the region, will not receive a vaccine allocation for the upcoming week as originally anticipated. As a result, first dose vaccine appointments scheduled for the week of Feb. 1 will be rescheduled. All second dose appointments will be kept. 

“We are grateful to Blue Ridge Health for their recent transfer of 500 doses to Pardee’s vaccine clinic,” said Dr. David Ellis, chief medical officer for Pardee UNC Health Care. “Their support enabled us to honor our commitment to patients scheduled this week.”

Patients scheduled for their first dose of vaccine on Feb. 1 will be rescheduled. These patients will be notified by the call center and should not call to reschedule. Pardee carefully manages vaccine allocations in order to ensure patients who receive a first dose with Pardee will also be able to receive their second dose with Pardee as well. Therefore, patients who were scheduled to receive their second dose the week of Feb. 1 will receive the second dose and those appointments will not be rescheduled. 

“We remain committed to a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines,” said Ellis. “As we continue to vaccinate people who fall within Groups 1 and 2, we are increasing our efforts to engage and reach communities who are historically marginalized and/or disproportionately affected by COVID-19.”

Ellis adds that Pardee is collaborating with community agencies, nonprofit organizations, and trusted leaders who work or live within these populations in order to increase access and understanding around vaccine efforts. 

Pardee will not be scheduling any new appointments via the call center or online scheduling system until vaccine allocations resume. The priority is to focus on rescheduling appointments previously scheduled. The community will be notified via news media updates and social media postings when new appointments will be available.  As a reminder, appointment scheduling is dependent on receiving the allocation from the state. The state has assured Pardee that future allocations will be more predictable, but it does not mean Pardee is guaranteed the same amount previously received. “Vaccine supply is distributed based on county demographics and numbers,” said Ellis. “As new vaccine providers are approved by NCDHHS, the same vaccine supply will be distributed among more providers. This does not translate into more vaccines for the community, just more locations.” Ellis notes that the addition of more providers may have the adverse effect of reducing the vaccine allocated to Pardee. 

“We understand and acknowledge that this is a frustrating situation for all concerned,” Ellis said. “Please know that we are doing everything we can to get vaccines into our community.”

Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is managed by UNC Health Care. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has several locations separate from the main campus, including a comprehensive physician practice network, a cancer center, four urgent care locations and six orthopedic clinics. For more information or to find a physician, visit www.pardeehospital.org.