North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced Thursday select individuals will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than expected.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will open some of the Group 4 eligibility March 17. That includes people with select pre-existing health conditions, and those residing in group living facilities.

This population includes anyone with conditions that have been identified by the CDC as increasing risk for severe COVID-19 illness. The CDC may update the list of high-risk conditions as scientists learn more about COVID-19. NCDHHS will update the list accordingly:

Asthma (moderate to severe)
Cancer
Cerebrovascular disease or history of stroke
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes type 1 or 2
A heart condition such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy
Hypertension or high blood pressure  
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from: immune deficiencies, HIV, taking chronic steroids or other immune weakening medicines, history of solid organ blood or bone marrow transplant
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, including Down Syndrome
Liver disease, including hepatitis
Neurologic conditions,such as dementia and schizophrenia
Pulmonary fibrosis
Overweight or obesity
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease (not including sickle cell trait) or thalassemia
Smoking (current or former, defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime)

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WHO IS IN GROUP 4? https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/when-will-group-4-get-the-covid-vaccine/275-c2473631-aa4d-4d2b-a38c-4f972260ed4a