COVID vaccines could soon be headed to another major Charlotte medical practice
Tryon Medical Partners could become the next Charlotte health care provider to offer COVID-19 vaccines, according to an email sent to patients.
The independent practice received approval from the state Department of Health and Human Services, Tryon Medical told patients in an email Thursday.
Tryon Medical still does not have vaccines, the email emphasized. And the independent practice asked patients to “resist the urge to call our offices,” in order to keep phone lines free for patients who need immediate help.
The practice said it will notify eligible patients by email with instructions once it receives COVID-19 vaccines, according to the email.
Tryon has been involved COVID-19 vaccine development for months, running trials for the Moderna vaccine and one from Johnson & Johnson.
The state has not yet told Tryon when to expect vaccines, according to spokesman Tom Williams. But the primary care practice, which serves about 155,000 patients, has freezer storage available to store more than 200,000 vaccines at its SouthPark clinic, Williams said.
Charlotte hospital systems Atrium Health and Novant Health are now providing the majority of COVID-19 vaccines in Mecklenburg.
Tryon Medical history
Tryon Medical Partners was formed after nearly 100 doctors announced plans in 2018 to break off from Atrium, Charlotte’s largest hospital system.
At the time, the split bucked a nationwide trend of health care consolidation.
Tryon Medical has since expanded outside of Mecklenburg County. That happened after several doctors announced plans in 2019 to leave CaroMont Medical Group’s South Point Family Practice in Gaston County to join Tryon Medical.
More vaccine options await
Over 86,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered in Mecklenburg as of Thursday.
The state is now offering coronavirus vaccines to health care workers, staff and residents at long-term care facilities and anyone age 65 and older.
N.C. officials and Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris have said the state could open up vaccine access to Group 3 within weeks. That group includes front-line essential workers, like teachers and grocery store workers.
Meanwhile, some stores could be getting access to COVID-19 vaccines soon. Walgreens announced it would bring COVID-19 vaccines to 300 locations across North Carolina starting Feb. 12.
This story was originally published February 4, 2021 at 4:58 PM.
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