CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There’s been good news lately on the coronavirus vaccine effort with two candidates that both tested to be about 95% effective. At least one of those, from drugmaker Pfizer, could go to federal regulators for emergency authorization in the coming days.

North Carolina and other areas around the country are seeing record coronavirus case numbers.

The state is not seeing the sharp spike that some others are, but public health officials are concerned that even with a vaccine on the horizon, colder weather and the holiday season could send case numbers even higher.

"Today, North Carolina's daily case count jumped to the highest number we’ve seen yet — 4,296. We have to double-down on our efforts to slow the spread of this virus," Gov. Roy Cooper said on Twtter Thursday. "It’s more important than ever to wear our masks, stay socially distant, and have smaller and safer plans for the holidays."

In a White House Coronavirus Task Force update Thursday afternoon, virus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said the two vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer means "help is on the way." But, he said, “We need to double-down on the public health measures” while the country and the world await the vaccines.

Assuming these first vaccines can get emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration quickly, vaccine supplies could start being distributed in the next couple of weeks, according to Dr. Lewis McCurdy with Atrium Health in Charlotte.

Fauci said he expects frontline workers to start getting vaccinated at the end of December.

But, McCurdy said, supplies will be short in the beginning and it could take a while to get the vaccine to everyone who needs or wants it.

Atrium is one of the hospital systems around North Carolina preparing to get the vaccine and start rolling it out, first to essential workers like nurses, doctors, firefighters, and others on the front line fighting the virus.

“I anticipate the healthcare systems will be the first people to provide the vaccines, because I do think they’re going to be limited in number,” McCurdy said.

Atrium is working with state and county public health officials to prepare to roll out one or more vaccines along with other hospital systems around the state.

The state Department of Health and Human Services submitted a vaccine distribution plan to federal officials last month detailing just how the vaccine will be distributed.

After frontline workers get vaccinated, then the next group will be at-risk populations like people with pre-existing conditions and those over 65. Teachers and people who work in places like homeless shelters and prisons will also be in the second tier. All told, the state hopes to roll out the vaccine to millions of people in North Carolina.

“This will come in cycles. Some vaccine will be distributed and then potentially more,” McCurdy said.

Polls have shown that many in the United States are concerned about the safety of the vaccine.

Fauci, speaking from the White House Thursday, said the speed at which these companies were able to develop and test the new vaccines did not impact safety or effectiveness.

“We need to put to rest any concept that this was rushed in any inappropriate way,” Fauci said.

“The only way you can get an effective program is when people take the vaccine,” he said. And a lot of people will have to take the vaccine to curb the spread of the virus.

At Atrium Health in Charlotte, McCurdy said, "There is no perfect number" for how many people in North Carolina need to get vaccinated to get "herd immunity" in the state.

"Historically that number is somewhere from 60 to 70% of people," he said. There is no specific target for how many people need to be vaccinated in the state, but, he said, "It’s going to be a lot of people."