Martin County health director: vaccine supply limited, county to increase outreach to EMS and firefighters

MTW Health Director Wes Gray updated the Martin County Board of Commissioners on COVID-19 metrics, district outbreaks and the county’s vaccination plan at the Jan. 13 meeting.

Gray reported two ongoing outbreaks in the district — including at Roanoke River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Martin County — and reviewed case counts, testing operations and the state-directed vaccine phases. He said the district was following state guidance that places health-care workers and long-term care staff and residents in phase 1a, people 75 and older and frontline essential workers in phase 1b, with subsequent phases for other high-risk and general populations.

Gray told the board Martin County was receiving a limited weekly allocation of vaccine doses, on the order of 200–300 doses per week, and that the department was registering citizens as doses became available. Commissioner Joe R. Ayers said many EMTs and firefighters had not been properly notified about vaccination opportunities and urged the health department to prioritize outreach: “we need to bump these people on up.” Gray responded that health-department staff had been working with Michael Bryant and would reach out by phone to fire stations that had limited email access to ensure their workers were registered for vaccination.

Gray also said drive-through testing sites in Martin County would continue through the end of January 2021 while the department shifted operational focus to vaccination clinics as supply allows. He urged residents to register for vaccine appointments as openings are announced and noted that the department was filling some 1b gaps with group 2 individuals when feasible.

No new local changes to the state rollout priorities were announced at the meeting; the board thanked Gray for the update.