Thread by @JoeBrunoWSOC9

Thread: Ultimately the story boils down to this- The COVID-19 vaccine is limited and coveted right now. Atrium has it. They are scheduling non-patient facing employees to get vaccinated. Plenty of high and at risk groups and people are waiting for their turn.

2. Kudos to @Hunt_Saenz for breaking this today and asking these questions. @NickOchsnerWBTV has a great story too. @TinaTerryWSOC9 also has had great stories on the vaccine distribution process.

3. I don't think it is fair or appropriate for people to personally attack @KatieMcKiever. She did nothing wrong. She was offered the vaccine through work and was approved for it. Katie is not the story. The process is. Her statement is here:

https://twitter.com/KatieMcKiever/status/1341796994000556033?s=20

4. Last week, @TinaTerryWSOC9 reported an Atrium employee in a non-patient facing role was approved for a vaccine.
wsoctv.com/news/local/inv…

5. In response to @TinaTerryWSOC9's story, NCDHHS said in order to be vaccinated, a profile has to be created for the recipient in NC's COVID-19 Vaccine Management System. Some hospitals submitted ALL staff, not just those in 1A (patient facing). Details of 1A below

6. NCDHHS told @TinaTerryWSOC9 that the hospitals that uploaded all staff members made a mistake! As a result, Priority Group 1A was assigned to some staffers in the system. NCDHHS claimed this is being corrected.

7. Today (or yesterday) we learned Atrium is still scheduling appointments for non-patient facing employees. Atrium released this statement. A couple of things warrant a closer look.

8. Atrium claims "under guidance provided by the state and federal regulators, all healthcare workers are considered Priority 1a to receive the COVID-19 vaccine." But that's not true. Check out the state's vaccine plan. Some are in group 2 files.nc.gov/covid/document…

9. Atrium also claims that the state must approve everyone who gets the vaccine. NCDHHS says- nope. Not the case.

10. Is it possible NCDHHS did not "correct" the issue @TinaTerryWSOC9 reported on about non 1A employees getting 1A authorization? Possibly! NCDHHS did not return my email asking why this hasn't been fixed. I even forwarded them their statement & highlighted the relevant portion

11. What this appears to boil down to is NCDHHS saying it is on the hospitals to follow the guidance. Atrium is defending the vaccination of non-patient facing staff by saying there is a tiered system and basically people in and out of the hospitals are the next group up.

12. What is needed:

More transparency from Atrium and the state on who is being vaccinated and when. Sure vaccines are limited right now. But the public could use a rough timeline.

i.e. When we get XX amount of doses we think XX will be able to be vaccinated.

13. What is needed continued:

The public needs more information on the vaccine process and how they will be able to get one. Lay it out in a clear manner.

I.E. Will health departments have to vaccinate police, teachers etc or will they have to go to their doctors?

14. What is needed continued, continued:

NCDHHS needs to be transparent about this labeling issue in the NC Vaccine Management System. How many employees were mislabeled? How many of the mislabeled employees are scheduled to receive COVID-19 vaccines?

15. So that is where we are right now with this complicated story. I'll add to this thread as we learn more. Merry Christmas.

16. The latest statement from NCDHHS doesn't advance the story much but reiterates they are relying on hospitals to actually vaccinate people based on the state's guidance

17. NEW: Atrium tells @AlisonKuznitz they are canceling 97 vaccination appointments in response to all of this charlotteobserver.com/news/coronavir…

18. Atrium confirms to @wsoctv 97 vaccination appointments are being canceled.