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Reminder about children’s vaccine in English and Spanish

An important message from Pender County Health Department

Kids shot

Pender County Health Department now offering Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children, ages 5-11

BURGAW – Pender County Health Department is now providing COVID-19 vaccine to children, ages 5-11.

“Children are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services Director.

Pfizer pediatric vaccine for ages 5-11 years is available Monday through Friday, 8 -11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. at the health department in Burgaw, 803 S. Walker St., and the Hampstead Annex, 15060 US Hwy 17, Hampstead.

The CDC recommends all children between these ages get the vaccine to protect against serious illness. The FDA has authorized emergency use of a lower dose of the vaccine to be administered to children in this age group. The Pfizer COVID-19 pediatric vaccine is the only authorized vaccine to be administered to children ages 5-11 at this time.

More than 3,000 children ages 5 to 11 participated in the trials. This is comparable to the number included in many similar clinical trials with children. Children were given two doses, and each dose was one-third the amount of the dose given to people 12 and older. Doses were given 21 days apart. No cases of myocarditis (a heart muscle inflammation, very rarely seen in some adults taking the vaccine), were seen in children 5 to 11 in the clinical trials.

For more details, call the health department at 910-259-1230.

Pender Health Department Update regarding COVID-19 vaccination

BURGAW – The Pender County Health Department is offering Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 booster vaccines. Booster shots are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The department also continues to offer COVID-19 vaccine shots to anyone who has not been vaccinated.

“Flu and COVID vaccinations are available Mondays through Fridays in our Burgaw and Hampstead offices,” said Carolyn Moser, Pender County Health and Human Services Director. “No appointment is necessary.”

Vaccinations and boosters are offered at the Pender County Health Department located at 803 S. Walker St. in Burgaw and the Hampstead Annex, 15060 US Hwy 17. For more information call 910-259-1230.

State to host public information session on Nov. 16 about PFAS/GenX at Chemours’ Fayetteville Works facility

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will host a community information session remotely via teleconference Tuesday, November 16, about current actions to prevent and remediate PFAS contamination at the Chemours Fayetteville Works Facility. The public is invited to participate by phone or online.

Topics will include updates from DEQ’s air, water and waste management divisions about emission reduction requirements, upcoming permit actions, drinking water well sampling results and replacement water updates. Officials from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services will provide an overview of knowledge about potential health effects and how to reduce exposure.

Event title: GenX community information meeting

Date and Time: Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021 at 6 p.m.

Phone: US TOLL +1-415-655-0003, Access code: 2427 524 0753

WebEx Link:
https://ncdenrits.webex.com/ncdenrits/j.php?MTID=m20e1854b10e617d07b77546e228cf776

Event Password: 1234

Following the presentations by DEQ and DHHS representatives, community members who pre-registered will have an opportunity to ask questions. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions through a chat feature in the web conferencing software.

More information about the state’s investigation can be found at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/genx-investigation. Information for residents can be found at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/key-issues/genx-investigation/genx-information-residents.

Health officials urge North Carolinians to get vaccinated for flu as COVID-19 cases remain high

Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are urging North Carolinians to protect themselves, their families and those around them by getting vaccinated against Influenza as the state enters flu season while experiencing a surge of COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant.

“COVID-19 is still here, still sending North Carolinians to the hospital with severe illness and still causing deaths. As flu season begins, we all need to do what we can to be as healthy as possible,” said Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, NCDHHS State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer. “It is critically important to get your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 vaccine. Flu can be a serious and sometimes deadly disease. Getting vaccinated can prevent you from getting ill and keep you from needing a hospital bed.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine. Vaccination against the flu can make illness milder and reduce the risk of more serious outcomes, making it especially important for those at higher risk of complications, such as people over 65, children younger than 5, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or obesity. Some of those same groups are also at high risk of complications from COVID-19.

Flu vaccinations are available at hospitals, pharmacies, private medical offices, some federally qualified health care centers and local health departments. COVID-19 vaccines may now be administered at the same time as other vaccines, including the flu vaccine, for those who need both. This fall and winter – don’t wait to vaccinate for flu and COVID-19.

In North Carolina, flu infections are most common from late fall to early spring, with activity usually peaking in January or February. The following precautions should be taken to protect against the spread of flu and other viruses like COVID-19:

Stay home when sick until fever-free for at least 24 hours. Those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should follow CDC guidance for end of isolation.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly.
Continue to practice the 3 Ws — wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth, waiting 6 feet apart, and washing your hands often can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and flu.

COVID-19 and flu symptoms are similar, so individuals who feel ill should call ahead before going to a doctor’s office, local health department or urgent care. They should consult with a doctor about getting tested for flu and/or COVID-19. Flu symptoms include:

Fever
Cough and/or sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Headaches and/or body aches
Chills
Fatigue
Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

Anyone who thinks they have the flu should contact their doctor right away to see if they need treatment with a prescription antiviral drug, such as Tamiflu. Early treatment with an antiviral drug can help prevent flu infections from becoming more serious. Treatment with a prescription antiviral drug is especially important for hospitalized patients, people with severe flu illness and those who are at high risk of serious flu complications based on their age or health. Treatment is also available for those with COVID-19 who are at higher risk for severe infections.

More information about flu is available online through the at flu.nc.gov and from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/flu. For information about COVID-19 in North Carolina, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov.

The Respiratory Surveillance Report provides updates on flu and COVID-19 surveillance data. Beginning Oct. 8 and through the flu season, flu data from around the state will be included in addition to data on COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

Empower Youth and Families Program sign up now.

Join us for our Fall cohort of the Empowering Youth and Families Program!

This program is for middle school youth and their caregivers in Pender County.

Weekly sessions will be held on Monday evenings in Burgaw, NC (exact location TBD) from 6:00 to 8:30 PM beginning Oct. 18, 2021, and going through Dec. 14. A FREE meal is provided at each session for the whole family! At the end of the program, families are eligible to participate in a celebration and FREE all-inclusive weekend trip to one of NC’s beautiful 4-H camps.

Session topics will include: parenting and child development; social and emotional competence; making healthy connections in social circles; opioid misuse prevention strategies and protective factors. Registration is required to attend.

For more information or to register, contact Jessica Hall at jlautry2@ncsu.edu or 910-259-1391.

Pender EYFP Full Flyer

Pender County establishes face-covering requirements in county buildings

BURGAW- All unvaccinated Pender County government employees and all unvaccinated public entering county buildings will be required to wear face coverings.

“Because COVID continues to spread, the Pender County Board of County Commissioners approved a recommendation to establish a mask or face covering requirement. We are taking this cautionary measure for the safety of our employees and citizens,” said Chad McEwen, Pender County Manager.

All unvaccinated members of the public entering county buildings must wear a properly worn face covering or mask or have verification confirming their vaccination status.

This goes into effect on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 8 a.m.

“We ask that all public and county employees observe appropriate social distancing of 6-feet,” said McEwen.

Please be advised that the mask requirement applies to all employees or members of the public who aren’t fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated means that two weeks have passed since receiving the second Moderna or Pfizer shot or two weeks since receiving the Johnson and Johnson shot.

Virtual meetings for county employees are strongly encouraged until the COVID virus is contained.

Pender County Health Department continues to provide COVID vaccinations to all residents ages 12 and older free of charge. No appointments are necessary. Vaccinations are available daily, 8-5 p.m. at the health department, 803 S. Walker St., in Burgaw, or at the Hampstead County Annex, 15060 US Hwy. 17.

North Carolina to Require Vaccine Verification for State Employees, Urges Other Government Agencies and Private Employers to do the Same

RALEIGH: Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced that the state government would begin verifying the vaccination status of its workers. Employees not vaccinated are required to wear a mask and be tested at least once a week. Today’s announcement comes as North Carolina’s latest upswing in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is driven by unvaccinated North Carolinians.

“Until more people get the vaccine, we will continue living with the very real threat of serious disease, and we will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like Delta,” said Governor Cooper.

NCDHHS updated guidance encourages private sector businesses to, at a minimum, verify vaccination status for their workers as well. The requirement for state government employees applies to cabinet agencies and is included in Executive Order 224.

“There is only one way out of this pandemic and that is vaccination. Our trends are accelerating at an alarmingly fast rate and the highest rates of viral spread are happening in areas with low vaccination rates and among those who are not fully vaccinated,” said Secretary Cohen. “If you are already vaccinated, I call on you to urge your unvaccinated family and friends to get their shot now. It is not an understatement to say that you will save lives by doing so.”

The NCDHHS updated guidance reminds unvaccinated people that they need to continue practicing the three Ws – wear a mask in all indoor public settings, wait six feet apart in all public settings and wash hands often. In addition, unvaccinated people should not gather with other unvaccinated people who do not live with them. If they do, they should stay outside and keep 6 feet of distance. In addition, unvaccinated people should not travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new mask guidance this week based on levels of transmission in communities. The new maps designate counties as areas of low (blue), moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), or high (red) transmission. Moving forward, everyone in a red or orange county in North Carolina, including those who have been vaccinated, should wear a mask in public indoor settings.

Additionally, in accordance with the updated CDC guidance, all K-12 schools should require universal masking, regardless of vaccination status. NCDHHS is updating its guidance for schools to align with this recommendation.

To date, North Carolina has administered nearly 9.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 57 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated. 61 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 86 percent of North Carolinians 65 and over.

Learn more about the state’s vaccine distribution at myspot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). Details on the Your Shot at $1 Million Summer Cash Drawing can be found at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/summervaxcash. Use NCDHHS’ online tool Find a Vaccine Location to find a nearby vaccine site. Call the state’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 888-675-4567.

Read the Executive Order.

Read a Frequently Asked Questions document.

North Carolina updates StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit

Sixty percent of North Carolinians over 18 have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine

RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. shared updated public health guidance for K-12 schools to follow in the upcoming school year.

“The most important work our state will do next month is getting all our school children back into the classrooms safely for in-person learning,” said Governor Cooper. “That’s the best way for them to learn, and we want their school days to be as close to normal as possible, especially after a year of disruption.”

The updated StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance, which urges that everything possible is done to keep students in schools and emphasizes continued masking. The Toolkit says schools with students in kindergarten through eighth grade should require all children and staff to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Schools with students in 9th through 12th grades should ensure that anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated, including students, wear a mask indoors.

This guidance is effective July 30th and local school leaders are responsible for requiring and implementing protocols in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit in consultation with their local health departments.

The Toolkit also updates additional measures for schools related to quarantining after COVID exposure, physical distancing, testing, transportation, cleaning, and other considerations.

State health officials continue to urge unvaccinated people to follow CDC and NCDHHS guidance and wear a mask indoors. When Executive Order 220 expires at the end of July, North Carolina businesses and other entities where masks are required will make their own decisions about requiring masks, with strong guidance provided by NCDHHS. Everyone, regardless of vaccine status, should still wear a mask in certain places such as public transportation and healthcare facilities.

“Get vaccinated right now if you haven’t. We are seeing the impact of the very contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 and it’s hitting those who are unvaccinated hard,” said Secretary Cohen. “Schools need to use the additional safety protocols outlined in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit to continue to protect students and staff as we enter the new school year.”

To date, North Carolina has administered more than 9.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 56 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated. Sixty percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 86 percent of people 65 and over.

Read the updated StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.