County or BRUNSWICK (Ornce oF mae County Coxassions Manas Anon rence Coes Govanaat CR Tenor Roorseeas. Bout, Nowa Cscuna 2822 Care Bau, Now Cascena 2822 . (10 255-204 Jan. 8, 2021 ‘The Honorable Roy Cooper Governor of North Carolina North Carolina Office of the Governor 20301 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 Dear Governor Cooper, ‘On behalf ofthe Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, | want to recognize the enocmous challenges we all face together to address the COVID-19 public health crs. We appreciate the efforts ‘ur state and community leaders have made ths past year to guide usto this point. ‘The health of Brunswick County's residents and North Carolinians everywhere is of paramount Importance toll of us. We are committed to continued bipartisan efforts to help our communities slow ‘the spread ofthis disease and vaccinate the publi \We understand that there ae limited vaccine supplies ad that t wll take significant time and support from partners at alllevels of goveenment to vaccinate those who want ane as safely and eficienty as possible. We also respect the state's commitment to distributing the vaccine equitably and with concern for those most at risk of severe illness or death-—hence the decision to revise the vacenation phases to Prioritize individuals aged 75 or older as soon as possible. Brunswick County i following the state's vaccination plan closely to ensure we provide residents wth 3 consistent message on where they fllinto the plan. nine withthe state's plan and messaging that counties would transition to Phase 1b Group 1, Brunswick County started scheduling appointments for eligible individuals Wednesday Jan. 6. However, with only 100 doses ofthe vaccine sent tothe county health department that weekits smallest allocation yet—it took only 10 minutes to book those vaccines fram more than 6,000 phone calls. Brunswick County is recognized as one ofthe fastest growing countesin the state and nation, anda signfcant reason for that growth i because olde individuals are choosing our county for their reticement. The US. Census Bureau estimates that of our neatly 143,000 residents, more than 15,000, residents are 75 and older and another 31,000 fal othe 65 to 78 year age range—nearly a thi of our total population.Since the recent transition to Phase 1b Group 1, several leaders and members of our communities have reached out tothe commissioners with concerns that Brunswick County isnt receiving enough vaccines from the state to adequately address our senior population while also continuing to vaccinate members of Phase 1a, We are concerned not only because these are our residents most at risk of dying fom this cruel disease (78have already passed away to date sedlymost aged 65 or older), but aio because a slower vaccination of tis rtal phase in our county might set us back fom moving forward into Phase 1b Group 2n a timely manner consistent with the rest ofthe state. ‘tis natural for people to compare what other counties or states are doin to all out the vaccine, We continue to ask our esidents to trust the process, main patient, and continue to follow mitigation strategies ke the Three Ws and staying at home as they have fr so many months. \With that being said, Brunswick County is also ready and more than capable to take on adétiona supplies ofthe vaccine. For the pat several months, the county developed its vaccination plan in ‘tandem with guidance available fom the NCOHAS andthe CDC. We communicated through our channels with partners to ensue that as many indvidvals eligible under Phase 1a were notified 3s possible and were ready to recelve a vaccine when they arived in out county ‘Brunswick County also acquired a transportable freezer taller to accommodate versions a the vaccine lke Piers that require ultra-cold storage case that was the version the county received At ths time, Brunswick County has only received shipments ofthe Moderna vaccine Following your guidance to coordinate lolly, ws partnered with both county hat, our community college, and athe area partners to cambine our forces with staffing and assets to establish a county ‘mass vaccination clinic. hasbeen stressed that we need to get the vaccination inthe arms of ou ‘esdents as 00 a8 possible, We tand united with our community partners, eady and hopefulto receive more vaccines and do just that. [As we enter ths new year, we send our best wishes forthe health and well-being of youre, Or. Mandy Cohen, and our teams across the state responding to this pandemic, especially atthe North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the North Carclina Department of Public Safety, and the Office ofthe Governor. We are apen to future communication with you and your team on opportunities ‘to benefit as many North Carolinians a possible in this trying time. Respectfully, fog top Randel fRandy) Thompson Brunswick County Chairman of the Board 910-398-1818. commissioner thompson@brunswickcountyne-go¥CC: North Carolina Department of Heath and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, MD. US. Representative David Rowzer North Croina Senator il Rabon North Corona Representative Frank ler North Carona Representative Chale Mile ‘Brunswick County Vice Chairman Mike Forte Brunswick County Commissioner Marty Cooke Brunswick County Commissioner Pat Sykes Brunswick County Commissioner Frank Willams Brunswick County Municipal Governments and Mayors Alliance of Brunswick County Property Oumers Association * Sources htts:/ata census gov/eedsei/table?a-BrunswickS20County,%<20Norths20carlina&tid=ACSST1Y2019 SOLOLBhidePreview=false