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The NC Public Defense System

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PAC Fund Updates Current Fee App Payment Dates

Memorandum: COVID-19 Vaccinations and Attorneys

January 18, 2021Filed Under: Announcements

As you know, North Carolina has started a tiered roll-out for COVID-19 vaccinations. We have
received lots of questions from attorneys who actively practice in courthouses about where they fall in line with the roll-out. IDS believes that these attorneys are in “Group 3,” the next group slated to receive the vaccinations.

We have reached this conclusion based on the letter by North Carolina Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Dr. Mandy Cohen, to Chief Justice Paul
Newby, on January 15, 2021 (see below). Dr Cohen has revised NC’s “Group” priorities to
reflect new national guidance from the CDC, and her letter reflects the change applicable to
some attorneys specifically those who must appear in court. Attorneys within the category of
“Government-Based Operations and Essential Functions,” including workers who support the
operations of the judicial system, would now fall into North Carolina’s “Group 3.” These
vaccine-eligible workers’ work-related duties “require them to be on-site and involve being in
close proximity to the public or to coworkers.”

North Carolina is presently vaccinating Groups 1 and 2. Click the link for the infographic with
the revised Groups. Note that each county, and each provider within a county, may be in a
different Group because of the volume of vaccine they receive and their expected flow of
recipients For all groups, you need to make an appointment for a vaccination in advance. Use the Find Your Spot site to find all of your county and provider options so that you are ready when Group 3 is open.

If you try to register for vaccination as a Group 3 worker and are denied or face pushback, IDS will be happy to provide you with documentation of our interpretation of how you are covered in this group. Please let us know if we can assist in this regard.

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Indigent Defense Services
123 West Main Street, Suite 400
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Phone: (919) 354-7200
Fax: (919) 354-7201

Attorney Fee Application Inquiry Line:
(919) 890-2188

Setoff Debt Program Taxpayer Inquiry Line:
(919) 890-1655

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