Gov. Cooper administration has called another COVID briefing.
It's unusual for a briefing to be called for a second consecutive day.
I'll live tweet here.
You can watch it here:
ncdps.gov/news-conference
#NCpol
It's unusual for a briefing to be called for a second consecutive day.
I'll live tweet here.
You can watch it here:
ncdps.gov/news-conference
#NCpol
Gov:
Beginning 2/24 expanding vax eligibility to group 3 to teachers.
BEFORE other frontline essential workers.
(As I predicted)
#NCpol
Beginning 2/24 expanding vax eligibility to group 3 to teachers.
BEFORE other frontline essential workers.
(As I predicted)
#NCpol
Gov:
All school employees will be put first in Group 3.
About 240,000 people.
Schools can re-open safely right now. I urge that.
Starting with smaller sub-group Group 3 workers will help providers streamline vax distribution.
#NCpol
All school employees will be put first in Group 3.
About 240,000 people.
Schools can re-open safely right now. I urge that.
Starting with smaller sub-group Group 3 workers will help providers streamline vax distribution.
#NCpol
Gov:
Yesterday, Biden told us every state is getting 5% more vax.
Everyone should get a vax.
A lot of people want to be next.
I appreciate hard work of health care workers to give shots quickly & fairly.
Still... 3Ws!
#NCpol
Yesterday, Biden told us every state is getting 5% more vax.
Everyone should get a vax.
A lot of people want to be next.
I appreciate hard work of health care workers to give shots quickly & fairly.
Still... 3Ws!
#NCpol
(Will a single #NCpol reporter recognize the political machination underway? Will any ask him?)
#NCpol
#NCpol
Cohen:
We'll continue to vax 65+ & health care workers over the next 2 weeks.
Shout out to all child care staff for their hard work over the past year.
Schools should re-open w/ safety protocols.
#NCpol
We'll continue to vax 65+ & health care workers over the next 2 weeks.
Shout out to all child care staff for their hard work over the past year.
Schools should re-open w/ safety protocols.
#NCpol
Cohen:
As we move forward vaxing people quickly & equitably, when more supplies become available, we'll be able to vax more people in March.
Gov:
Thanks, Dr. Cohen. Your leadership is really appreciated.
#ncpol
As we move forward vaxing people quickly & equitably, when more supplies become available, we'll be able to vax more people in March.
Gov:
Thanks, Dr. Cohen. Your leadership is really appreciated.
#ncpol
Winston-Salem Journal reporter Q:
Priorities for essential workers on March 10?
Gov:
Everybody deserves a vax. When you have tremendous demand, we're dealing with thousands of shots, prioritizing is difficult to do.
It's important we went into LTCs.
#ncpol
Priorities for essential workers on March 10?
Gov:
Everybody deserves a vax. When you have tremendous demand, we're dealing with thousands of shots, prioritizing is difficult to do.
It's important we went into LTCs.
#ncpol
Gov:
The next group is harder, because there are so many people & they're not all located together like LTCs and hospitals.
Cohen:
Supply is limited.
Biden Admin has given us more each week. New vax coming in weeks.
#ncpol
The next group is harder, because there are so many people & they're not all located together like LTCs and hospitals.
Cohen:
Supply is limited.
Biden Admin has given us more each week. New vax coming in weeks.
#ncpol
Follow-up reporter Q:
Has the list of Group 3 workers changed?
Gov:
No. Stuck closely to federal guidance - although it has changed a lot.
Supply is limited.
#ncpol
Has the list of Group 3 workers changed?
Gov:
No. Stuck closely to federal guidance - although it has changed a lot.
Supply is limited.
#ncpol
WRAL reporter Q:
Wake only vax about 45% of 65+ year olds. Why vax teachers now if we're not vaxing the most vulnerable yet?
Gov:
That's why we're not making this move for another 2 weeks.
We want all vax'd.
Schools can open safely now.
#ncpol
Wake only vax about 45% of 65+ year olds. Why vax teachers now if we're not vaxing the most vulnerable yet?
Gov:
That's why we're not making this move for another 2 weeks.
We want all vax'd.
Schools can open safely now.
#ncpol
Follow-up reporter Q:
Rural areas see mega sites & see very few shots.
Gov:
Supply is limited. We all want more.
Cohen:
Supply is limited.
Most vax distributed by county population. Ensures every county gets proportional amount.
Bumps for 65+, low income, racial groups.
#ncpol
Rural areas see mega sites & see very few shots.
Gov:
Supply is limited. We all want more.
Cohen:
Supply is limited.
Most vax distributed by county population. Ensures every county gets proportional amount.
Bumps for 65+, low income, racial groups.
#ncpol
Carolina Public Press reporter Q:
Talking about equity & fairness... what mechanisms in place to prevent people from lying to line-cut?
Gov:
Allowing local flexibility. Get vax in arms. Hard to prevent. Urging providers to follow state guidelines. Equitable distribution.
#ncpol
Talking about equity & fairness... what mechanisms in place to prevent people from lying to line-cut?
Gov:
Allowing local flexibility. Get vax in arms. Hard to prevent. Urging providers to follow state guidelines. Equitable distribution.
#ncpol
Cohen:
Boards of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing helped us develop ways to ID flagrant violations of line-skipping.
Working to get 65+ pop.
Want to prevent selling vax or appointments.
#ncpol
Boards of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing helped us develop ways to ID flagrant violations of line-skipping.
Working to get 65+ pop.
Want to prevent selling vax or appointments.
#ncpol
Follow-up reporter Q:
Logistically, as people present to get vax, how to prevent liars claim to be essential workers?
Gov:
Have to rely on peoples' honesty.
At end of day, we need to get shots in arms. Some places might be more rigid than others.
#ncpol
Logistically, as people present to get vax, how to prevent liars claim to be essential workers?
Gov:
Have to rely on peoples' honesty.
At end of day, we need to get shots in arms. Some places might be more rigid than others.
#ncpol
Cohen:
As we work with frontline essential workers, they have an employer who can ID employees.
Employers can pre-register their workers.
Supply is limited.
Asking providers to abide our prioritizations.
#ncpol
As we work with frontline essential workers, they have an employer who can ID employees.
Employers can pre-register their workers.
Supply is limited.
Asking providers to abide our prioritizations.
#ncpol
AP reporter Q:
Is there going to be ID requirement to prove employment status? Nothing to prevent me from lying?
Could teacher get appt. before a 65+ person?
Cohen:
No ID requirement. Speed & equity.
Limited supply.
#ncpol
Is there going to be ID requirement to prove employment status? Nothing to prevent me from lying?
Could teacher get appt. before a 65+ person?
Cohen:
No ID requirement. Speed & equity.
Limited supply.
#ncpol
N&O reporter Q:
Why changed course on this now - moving teachers to front of line?
Will they be in same pool as 65+?
Gov:
Depends on the provider. They know 65+ are at greater risk.
Doing sub-group prevents lots of people crashing into vax system all at once.
#ncpol
Why changed course on this now - moving teachers to front of line?
Will they be in same pool as 65+?
Gov:
Depends on the provider. They know 65+ are at greater risk.
Doing sub-group prevents lots of people crashing into vax system all at once.
#ncpol
Follow-up reporter Q:
Is the timing related to urging schools & will schools become vax sites?
Gov:
It's safe to reopen schools without vaxing teachers. Since we announced our urging, districts are moving to do so.
#ncpol
Is the timing related to urging schools & will schools become vax sites?
Gov:
It's safe to reopen schools without vaxing teachers. Since we announced our urging, districts are moving to do so.
#ncpol
WTVD reporter Q:
Going to see teachers vax'd at schools?
Gov:
This is why we're giving 2 weeks notice.
Cohen:
Creating operational guidance & getting input from schools.
#ncpol
Going to see teachers vax'd at schools?
Gov:
This is why we're giving 2 weeks notice.
Cohen:
Creating operational guidance & getting input from schools.
#ncpol
Follow-up reporter Q:
No plan in place yet for teachers? Target date for 65+ to be all vax'd?
Gov:
Plans being worked now.
Cohen:
Want everyone to get vax'd. But will take time because supply is limited.
#ncpol
No plan in place yet for teachers? Target date for 65+ to be all vax'd?
Gov:
Plans being worked now.
Cohen:
Want everyone to get vax'd. But will take time because supply is limited.
#ncpol
WLOS reporter Q:
Polk County equestrian center mega site?
Sprayberry:
Vax supply is limited. It's on a list as a potential site.
#ncpol
Polk County equestrian center mega site?
Sprayberry:
Vax supply is limited. It's on a list as a potential site.
#ncpol
???? (I missed her outlet) reporter Q:
Educators with comorbidities to get priority over other teachers?
Cohen:
Anyone over 65+ is already eligible. Not sub-prioritizing within the groups.
(So... no.)
#ncpol
Educators with comorbidities to get priority over other teachers?
Cohen:
Anyone over 65+ is already eligible. Not sub-prioritizing within the groups.
(So... no.)
#ncpol
Follow-up reporter Q:
Where did you find additional vax to move forward with vaxing teachers?
Cohen:
We get 150k new doses each week. Biden is giving us more each week. Hopeful for 3rd vax reviewed & approved in coming weeks.
CDC tells us we're vaxing at very high rate.
#ncpol
Where did you find additional vax to move forward with vaxing teachers?
Cohen:
We get 150k new doses each week. Biden is giving us more each week. Hopeful for 3rd vax reviewed & approved in coming weeks.
CDC tells us we're vaxing at very high rate.
#ncpol
A couple #NCpol reporters sniffed around the perimeter on this, but nobody challenged Gov. Cooper directly -- about why he's picking teachers as the preferred sub-group.
What makes this population BETTER than the other sub-groups in the "essential worker" category?
What makes this population BETTER than the other sub-groups in the "essential worker" category?
This obviously political move was so obvious that even this lowly little podcaster & radio guy could see it coming:
#NCpol
https://twitter.com/PeteKaliner/status/1359507944317087744
#NCpol
NCAE needs an off-ramp in their standoff with Cooper.
Cooper needs cover from NCAE attacks --- ESPECIALLY if #NCGA passes #SB37 forcing in-person instruction option. I mean, would Cooper actually veto that?!
Parents would be grabbing pitchforks.
#NCpol
Cooper needs cover from NCAE attacks --- ESPECIALLY if #NCGA passes #SB37 forcing in-person instruction option. I mean, would Cooper actually veto that?!
Parents would be grabbing pitchforks.
#NCpol
This is a great example of what I mean when I say the Democratic politicians' arguments are always accepted as the truthful premise.
It's ASSUMED that Cooper put teachers first for some reason OTHER than politics.
#NCPol media doesn't even question it.
It's ASSUMED that Cooper put teachers first for some reason OTHER than politics.
#NCPol media doesn't even question it.
He says he's doing it to gradually allow the 240k people into the vax pool. But is that true?
Would a smaller cohort make it a smoother entry? Again, nobody questions his premise.
No, today's announcement was an escape hatch.
#NCpol
Would a smaller cohort make it a smoother entry? Again, nobody questions his premise.
No, today's announcement was an escape hatch.
#NCpol
And, as I predicted this morning, the NCAE agrees to Cooper's concession:
They then train their sights on the @NCGOP #NCGA and #SB37 - calling it unnecessary now (it's not).
#NCpol
https://twitter.com/ncae/status/1359579907462955014
They then train their sights on the @NCGOP #NCGA and #SB37 - calling it unnecessary now (it's not).
#NCpol
Finally, here is the NCDHHS' Group 3 essential worker categories.
Today's announcement puts teachers at the front of the line in this group:
files.nc.gov/covid/document…
#NCpol
Today's announcement puts teachers at the front of the line in this group:
files.nc.gov/covid/document…
#NCpol
Oh!
One more thing...
I wonder how focusing on teachers ahead of other essential workers will affect the Cooper Admin's focus on vaccinating in a racially proportionate way.
/end
#NCpol
One more thing...
I wonder how focusing on teachers ahead of other essential workers will affect the Cooper Admin's focus on vaccinating in a racially proportionate way.
/end
#NCpol
@threadreaderapp Please unroll.
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