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North Carolina Prepares For The Arrival Of A Third COVID-19 Vaccine

Photo Credit: TED S. WARREN/AP

The federal government recently authorized the distribution of Johnson & Johnson's one-shot vaccine.

More than 80,000 of these doses are expected to arrive in North Carolina this week, beginning on Wednesday.

State health officials say like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently in use, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protects against virus-related hospitalization and death. Some studies show it's less effective in preventing moderate or mild COVID cases. 

There are possible side effects, such as a sore arm, fever, headache or feeling tired and achy for a day or two.

But what makes this latest vaccine different is that it's a single dose and doesn't require extreme cold storage.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says the increased supply will help to ensure equitable distribution and access to COVID-19 vaccines in communities across the state.

According to the agency, more than 2,100 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Sunday and more than 1,400 were reported Monday.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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