North Carolina will begin Group 3 vaccinations beginning today (2/24/21). Child care providers and Pre-K – 12 schools are included in Group 3. COVID-19 vaccine supplies are limited, and Group 3 is a large population. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working with its partners to support child care providers in accessing vaccines. Child care providers may visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website for more information.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) has now reported the first identification of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 in the state of North Carolina. For important information on the B.1.351 variant, the COVID-19 vaccine,  and additional state recommendations to improve mask wearing based on guidance from the CDC, visit the NC DHHS website.

NC will move to Group 3 Frontline Essential Workers in the vaccine plan on February 24. Because supply is still very limited and the population of frontline essential workers is so large, this will begin with anyone working in child care or in PreK –12 schools starting on February 24.

Do you need to know if you are eligible? Find more information on the chart in the DEEPER DIVE: Group 3 – Frontline Essential Workers (School and Childcare), available in English and Spanish on the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website.

We now have a new COVID-19 Resources page on our website. Here, helpful resources including the Guidance for Families can be found in both English and Spanish.

Do you as an early educator or family member continue to have questions about face covering use in child care or know someone who does? The Face Covering Use in Child Care document has been updated recently and is a great resource to help with answering some of those questions.