News & Media

Iredell Recognized by State for Quick Vaccine Response

January 15, 2021 – Federal and state health officials have been pushing county health departments and hospitals to speed up the COVID vaccination process. But while some places have been sluggish rolling it out, Iredell County is catching the attention of state leaders, for vaccinating quickly and efficiently.

On a joint legislative committee meeting earlier this week, North Carolina Health Secretary Doctor Mandy Cohen recognized Iredell and Robeson County for the work officials are doing.

“I want to recognize that some are doing fantastic. As I said, some health departments and I want to call out a couple, Robeson, Iredell, they are doing tremendous work and they literally have 0 vaccines sitting on their shelf. Others are struggling to get that vaccine out for a variety of reasons,” she told state lawmakers.

“I don’t think that we’re doing it any better than anyone else,” said Jane Hinson, the health director in Iredell County.

But they’re getting almost all the vaccine they’re allocated into people’s arms, exactly what the state wants to see.

“It’s just doing it quickly. There’s nothing magic to that. It’s community partnerships where they’re allowing us to have clinics,” said Hinson. “It’s working with law enforcement, emergency management. It’s just a community initiative.”

And it’s all hands on deck, even she is helping to vaccinate people.

“I am drawing up vaccine and I am getting band-aids ready and I am helping our staff. I am just one member of a team of a phenomenal staff,” she said.

Hinson knows there is a need for speed. She said the key in Iredell County has been that they are not taking appointments. It is first come first serve.

On Thursday or Friday of each week, they find out how many doses of the Moderna vaccine they will be getting the following week. If they will have enough to hold a mass vaccination clinic in the park, the plan it and inform the public. On the day of the clinic, they give each car a ticket. They don’t make more people than they can vaccinate wait in line.

“Iredell County Recognized for Quick Vaccination Efforts.” www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/iredell-county-recognized-for-quick-vaccination-efforts/ar-BB1cN1Vu?ocid=uxbndlbing