Lots of people have questions about how to get a coronavirus vaccine. We wanted to make it easier for UUFR members and friends by pulling some information together in one location. If you are at least 65 years old (or someone who works in long-term care or health care), you are eligible to get the coronavirus vaccine now. Each North Carolina county has its own Covid 19 vaccine distribution system. This website provides links to every county in the state: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/findyourspot Anyone can get a vaccine in any county, but we will focus on the way things work in Wake County. Here, there are four main sources of vaccine shots. It doesn’t hurt to try as many of the sources as possible.

1. The Wake County Public Health Department

This is a waiting list system. You put your name on the list and they contact you to schedule an appointment. The list is prioritized by age and other risk factors. As with the other sources, the Health Department cautions that, depending on the supply of vaccine, it could be weeks before you hear from them. To put your name on the list, call 919-250-1515 or go to http://www.wakegov.com/covidvaxandtest/. Both the phone line and website are open 24/7.

2. UNC Rex Health Care

THE UNC REX SYSTEM DOES NOT MAINTAIN A WAIT LIST. THUS YOU MUST CHECK, M-F, IN THE AFTERNOON TO SEE IF ANY SLOTS ARE AVAILABLE. The UNC system allows you to schedule a vaccine appointment directly online https://vaccine.unchealthcare.org/get-vaccinated/ or by calling (984)-215-5485. The phone line is open from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. If you try to schedule an appointment online and see a notice that all appointment slots are full, try again later. New slots open up periodically. You do not have to be a UNC patient or have a UNC MyChart in order to get a vaccine through UNC health care.

3. Duke Raleigh Hospital If you are a Duke MyChart user, you can check Duke MyChart to view appointment availability and schedule an appointment directly. But anyone who is 65 or older can sign up on the Duke vaccine waiting list. Duke will contact people on the waiting list to schedule an appointment as they become available. Please do not expect an immediate call, and please do not sign up more than once. To join the waiting list, go to https://www.dukehealth.org/covid-19-update/covid-19-vaccine-update or call 919-385-0429 (option 2) between 8am and 8pm.

4. WakeMed Health & Hospitals

At this time, you must be an established WakeMed patient with a WakeMed MyChart to receive a vaccine through WakeMed. If you are age 65+ and are a patient with a WakeMed physician practice (primary care, cardiology, general surgery, orthopaedics, etc.), you will receive a phone call or MyChart message to make an appointment to receive a vaccine. WakeMed patients are selected by lottery on a rolling basis. The process is anticipated to take several weeks, so please be patient as they work through the patient list. For more information, call 919-350-1066 or go to https://www.wakemed.org/patients-and-visitors/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccine/wakemed-primary-care–patients-age-75plus

Some pharmacies (e.g. Walgreens) are starting to offer vaccination and some medical practices are sometimes offering this service. If you are feeling confused, overwhelmed, or don’t have great internet access, you don’t have to figure this out by yourself. A member of UUFR’s Care Team can help. Contact one of the people below for assistance:

Sarah Ford Neorr [email protected] 919-931-2329

Linda Rogers [email protected] 919-329-7999