<p>Cox</p>

Cox

<p>Smith</p>

Smith

LUMBERTON — UNC Health Southeastern received a shipment of 1,300 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines Tuesday and began restoring vaccine appointments that were postponed because of vaccine shortages this past week.

The health system was in the process Tuesday of contacting by telephone all patients whose vaccination appointments were postponed to offer new appointments, according to a UNC Health Southeastern press release.

Vaccinations using the 1,300 first doses of the Moderna vaccine were to begin Wednesday, said Amanda Crabtree, UNC Health Southeastern spokesperson. Southeastern had previously dispensed the Pfizer vaccine.

“In addition to the shipment of Moderna we received today, we are expecting one shipment of Moderna each week over the next two weeks, each with a baseline of 600 first doses. This week we received a supplemental allocation of 700 first doses in addition to the 600. Supplemental allocations vary from week to week,” Crabtree said.

The hospital is advised on vaccine allocations by the state based on its share from the federal government, she said.

“We have not been advised when we might receive more first-dose allocations of Pfizer vaccine,” Crabtree said.

In order to meet the demand of a larger quantity of vaccines while continuing to honor second-dose vaccinations, UNC Health Southeastern is opening a third vaccination site Wednesday.

Southeastern COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at The Oaks, located at 725 Oakridge Blvd. in Suite A1, will open 1 p.m. Wednesday. The site is in addition to vaccination sites at 2901 N. Elm St. in Lumberton and 5103 Candy Park Road in Pembroke.

“We are very pleased with this new supply of vaccine and encourage the community to take advantage of its availability,” said Jason Cox, UNC Health Southeastern’s vice president and chief operating officer.

“Delaying vaccination may mean missing out on an opportunity to get this proven protection from the virus,” he said. “We believe that Robeson County’s racial diversity has afforded us this opportunity to offer more vaccines to more people throughout our region over the coming days.”

The Robeson County Department of Public Health also received vaccines Tuesday.

Five hundred Moderna first-dose vaccines and 975 Pfizer second-dose vaccines were delivered to the health department, said Bill Smith, director of the Health Department.

“We are receiving 500 doses each for the next three weeks,” Smith said.

There were no first doses on hand until the vaccine arrived about 10 a.m., he said. There were 160 second doses on hand before the new shipment arrived.

“Additionally, five Robeson Health Care sites got 100 each for equity purposes,” Smith said.

The Health Department has administered 5,954 doses of COVID vaccines, including first and second doses, the health director said.

As of Tuesday, the hospital had administered 5,034 first-dose vaccines and 1,168 second-dose vaccines, according to its website.

People age 65 and older and health care workers who would like to schedule a first-dose vaccine appointment should call 910-671-5395 or email their name, date of birth and phone number to [email protected] to request an appointment in Lumberton or Pembroke.

The Elm Street clinic is open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Pembroke clinic Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All vaccinations are given by appointment only, Crabtree said.

The health system will soon announce an option to self-schedule for first-dose appointments through a link on its website at www.srmc.org.

Patients need to bring their insurance card and a state-issued identification card, such as a driver’s license, to vaccination appointments and should wear masks and practice social distancing.