More than 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered through the federally supported vaccination center that opened March 10, 2021 in Greensboro, N.C. The center has been successful in reaching underserved communities with recipients praising the staff and service.

 

“This vaccination center has been a model site showcasing the best of local, state and federal partnerships. And it has demonstrated how instrumental on-the-ground, trusted partners are to reaching historically underserved communities and facilitating access to vaccines,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. 

 

“Many organizations working together have made this clinic a tremendous success,” said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry. “Each day the team finds new ways to improve and implements those ideas to make a stronger operation.”

 

Federal and state partners have worked closely with community-based organizations in the area to ensure vaccine appointments for underserved communities. Of the 103,132 doses administered to date at the Four Seasons Town Centre, more than 22% have gone to Black or African American individuals, who make up a 23% of North Carolina’s population, and more than 15% to people from Hispanic/LatinX communities, who make up almost 10% of the state’s population. 

 

To reach more marginalized and underserved communities, the main vaccination center is supporting additional sites at the CityGate Dream Center and Eric Lane in Alamance County (in partnership with Cone Health/Alamance Regional Medical Center) and Winston Salem State University in Forsyth County (in partnership with the Forsyth County Department of Public Health, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center). These locations have distributed an additional 22,325 doses, of which more than 28% have gone to people who are Black or African American and 30% to Hispanic/LatinX individuals.

 

In a recent survey of 1,280 people who received vaccinations through the Greensboro center, more than 95% rated their experience as excellent, and almost 98% said that would be very likely to recommend the vaccine center to a friend or family member. More than 88% of people reported spending less than 30 minutes at the site to receive their vaccine. 

 

“Our good results changed our outlook on the vaccines, and we are now encouraging others to do the same,” noted one survey responder. Additional comments included: 

• “This operation is worthy of every superlative.”

• “Best experience I’ve had getting a shot.”

• “Atendieron muy bien! 10/10”

The Greensboro clinic will be extended through May 27th and will continue to provide the Pfizer vaccine. While appointments are encouraged and available online at GSOmassvax.org or by phone at 888-675-4567, walk-in and drive-up vaccines are also available without appointment.

 

Guilford County was selected for a vaccination site by FEMA and the CDC as an area with significant underserved or marginalized populations. The site is organized and operated by the state and staffed through the U.S. Department of Defense. It is supported with resources from Guilford County, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, including the Division of Emergency Management and the North Carolina National Guard, and NCDHHS.

 

COVID-19 vaccines are now open to everyone in North Carolina ages 16 and older. For more information, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov.