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County suspends 1st doses temporarily

POLK COUNTY—Polk County is currently out of COVID-19 vaccines. 

The Polk County Health and Human Services Agency sent a press release on Monday saying they have not received additional doses of dose 1 of the vaccine in the past 2 weeks and will not receive any new doses this week. 

So, dose 1 is temporarily postponed. February appointments already made for dose 1 are not canceled but are being postponed until a later date, according to the PCDHHS. County officials said they will confirm new appointment dates once more supplies come in. 

No new appointments for dose1 are being taken at this time. 

Polk County Health and Human Service Agency Director Josh Kennedy said state partners are working hard to secure new doses, including for all the state and Polk County.

“Polk County hopes to have an update to share about the status of the Dose 1 supplies by the end of this week,” Kennedy said Monday. “Currently, Polk County does not have a supply of vaccines to operate the planned vaccine clinics for dose 1 recipients in February and will need to postpone those events until county officials know when and how much supply will arrive.” 

Kennedy said almost every county in North Carolina is in a similar position and there are likely other states in the same position. 

Polk County has been administering vaccines at the Tryon International Equestrian Center for the past 3 weeks. Many health care workers have been given their second vaccine. 

Kennedy said this shortage does not affect people scheduled to get their second vaccine in February. 

“Polk County greatly appreciates the collaborative partnership in the community that has helped streamline the delivery process,” Kennedy said. “Polk County is just a little over a month into the Polk County COVID-19 Vaccine Coalition’s efforts to distribute the vaccine. By the end of this week, the partnership will have vaccinated more than 2,000 people with their first dose. Polk County also has started the DOSE 2 administration process using Moderna.”

The county said once it begins receiving more vaccines of dose 1, the vaccine should be able to begin being administered again within days. 

Polk County officials also ask that anyone who needs to cancel their appointments to do so immediately so plans can be made for others. To cancel an appointment, people can email polkprn@polknc.org.