Orange County Health News
September 8, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monoclonal Antibodies for Treatment of
COVID-19
While vaccines provide the best protection from COVID-19, treatment options such as Monoclonal Antibodies are available if you have had symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days or less or have been exposed to COVID-19. If taken early, they can reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Ask your doctor about Monoclonal Antibodies or call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585 (English) or 1-877-366-0310 (Spanish).
Version en Español
If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and have had symptoms for 10 days or less, talk to your health care provider to see if monoclonal antibody therapy is an option for you or find a treatment center near you. Some people may qualify for preventative treatment before showing symptoms. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, talk to your health care provider for more.
Your body naturally makes antibodies to fight infection. However, your body may not have antibodies designed to recognize a new virus like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow the use of monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in certain high-risk patients.
Monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, are made in a laboratory to fight a particular infection—in this case, the virus that causes COVID-19—and are given to patients directly with an infusion or a shot. That’s why mAb treatment may help patients who are at high risk for severe symptoms or hospitalization.
Some early evidence suggests that mAb treatment can reduce the amount of the virus, or viral load, that causes COVID-19 in a person's body. Having a lower viral load means you may have milder symptoms, which decreases the likelihood hospitalization.
This treatment may help people who:- Have tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms for 10 days or less, and
- Are at high risk of getting more serious symptoms.
Additionally, the FDA has authorized the REGEN-COV (Casirivimab + Imdevimab) mAb product for use in some patients who are exposed to COVID-19 even if they are not showing symptoms. People who are not fully vaccinated or who have immunocompromising conditions, including those taking immunosuppressive medications, and have either been exposed to COVID-19 or are at high risk of exposure due to where they live or work may qualify for preventative treatment. Talk to your health care provider or find a treatment center.
This treatment is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange County Afterschool Programs Fair for Grades 6-12
Youth and families can come learn about and sign up or programs that support youth in grades 6-12. There will be time to ask questions too! The fair will be live online on Saturday, September 18th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.
Fill out this interest form to get the link for the event. You will also receive a directory of Orange County nonprofit programs for youth of all ages. The interest form is available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, and Swahili. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free COVID-19 Vaccine ClinicsVaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, please bring your vaccination card with the record of your first dose. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot.
***Need a third shot because you are immunocompromised?***
Visit our Chapel Hill location Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm at 2501 Homestead Rd. The Hillsborough location is not currently offering third shots.
Chapel Hill Vaccine Clinics
2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm - Please call 919-913-8088 to schedule an appointment.
- Moderna, Pfizer, and Janssen are available.
- Third doses of Moderna or Pfizer for immunocompromised people are available.
Hillsborough Vaccine Clinics
2nd Floor, 300 W Tryon St., Hillsborough, NC 27278
Monday - Saturday, 9:00am - 5:00pm - Please call 877-505-6723 to schedule an appointment.
- Please call 919-913-8088 for questions.
- Moderna and Pfizer are available.
- Third doses of Moderna or Pfizer for immunocompromised people are NOT available at this location at this time. Please visit our Chapel Hill location.
Pop-Up Walk-In Vaccine Clinics
In addition to our regularly scheduled walk-in clinics (see above), the Orange County Health Department is pleased to offer pop-up vaccine clinics to all community members ages 12 and older. No registration required, these are walk-in clinics.
Farmers Market Pavilion
140 E. Margaret Ln., Hillsborough, NC
Wednesday, September 8th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyer: English, Español
Smith Middle School Gym
9201 Seawell School Rd., Chapel Hill
Wednesday, September 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Flyer: English/Español
Orange High School
500 Orange High School Rd., Hillsborough, NC
Saturday, September 11th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Flyer: English/Español
Hog Day
100 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC
Saturday, September 11th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Flyer: English/Español
Last Fridays at the Old Courthouse in Hillsborough
104 E. King St., Hillsborough, NC
Friday, September 24th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Flyer: English/Español
St. Thomas More Catholic Church
940 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC
Saturday, September 25 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English/Español
Carrboro Music Festival
108 Bim St., Carrboro, NC
Sunday, September 26 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Flyers: English/Español
Orange High School
500 Orange High School Rd., Hillsborough, NC
Saturday, October 2nd from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Flyers: English/Español |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New COVID-19 Testing Hours
In response to the increased demand for testing the Orange County Health Department has expanded the weekday testing schedule. The new EXPANDED HOURS will allow people to get a free COVID-19 test before and after work!
Chapel Hill: 7:00am - 3:00pm at 2501 Homestead Rd.
Hillsborough: 11:00am - 7:00pm at 300 W. Tryon St.
For more information please visit www.orangecountync.gov/2451/testing
Both testing locations will be closed on Monday, September 6th for Labor Day.
Need a COVID-19 test? You have many options: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place
Please note that the two testing sites are run by different vendors. Please attend the clinic that you have registered with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Statistics Behind “Breakthrough” Infections
Recently we have seen a rash of headlines along the lines of “75% of infected people were fully vaccinated” atop stories describing a “super-spreader” event in Massachusetts. While that statistic is correct, it needs to be put into context. First, let’s note that the outbreak, in which 360 out of 469 cases (75%) were among vaccinated individuals, was linked with densely packed indoor and outdoor events on the July 4th weekend with few people wearing masks. Next, let’s examine that scary 75% number.
Consider a theoretical scenario in which 100% of a population is vaccinated. Since vaccines are not perfect, there will be some “breakthrough” infections, and in such a case, 100% of infections will be among vaccinated people! That does not mean vaccines do not work.
To determine vaccine efficacy in this case, we would need to know the total number of vaccinated and unvaccinated people who gathered that weekend. If this were known, then the percent of infections in the two populations could be calculated and the efficacy of the vaccine determined. In other words, it is important to know the denominator in such a calculation!
If out of the 469 cases, 360 (75%) were vaccinated, to find the percent of infections among vaccinated people we would have to make the calculation 360/a X 100 where “a” is the total number of vaccinated people. Similarly, for the unvaccinated, it would be 109/b, X 100 where “b” is the total of unvaccinated individuals. But we do not know “a” or “b,” so the relative effectiveness cannot be calculated. However, given what we know about rates of vaccination in the state, which is roughly 65%, and in Provincetown, the epicentre, a reported 85%, it is a good bet that “a” is much larger than “b,” meaning that the percent of infection among vaccinated people is much less than among the unvaccinated. Such data is available from other studies and formed the basis for the approval of the various vaccines.
What all this means is that given the high vaccination rate, the chilling 75% number is not surprising and is basically meaningless. The really important number is 1.07, which is the percent of infected people (5 out of 469) who ended up in the hospital! One of these was unvaccinated, and two had prior health conditions. This means that the vaccines keep people out of the hospital! We can cope with flu-like symptoms, we just do not want to end up in the ICU!
To further buttress the point that vaccines work, CDC reports about 35,000 symptomatic cases a week out of 162 million vaccinated Americans, which is 0.02%. Also, more than 90% of patients hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated. Furthermore, vaccination is associated with a 40-50% reduction in COVID cases among an infected person’s household contacts.
The delta variant is now responsible for most infections, and it is nasty, spreading much more easily than the original virus. Studies show that vaccinated individuals carry as much of this variant in their nose as the unvaccinated, suggesting that they can spread the virus. They can indeed, but are still less likely to do so than the unvaccinated since they are less likely to be infected in the first place. Another boost for vaccines comes from just-released Israeli data demonstrating that a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine among the over 60 offers greater protection than after two vaccines by a factor of four!
What should we then take away from the Massachusetts event? That this is not the time for unnecessary gatherings or travel. And neither is it time to toss away the masks, no matter how unpleasant they are to wear. And of course, for the yet unvaccinated, it is time to get the jab. Unvaccinated people are incubators for variants. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Preparedness Month Week 2:
Build a Kit- Create or update your emergency supplies with this list.
- Make sure your emergency kit is ready to go in case you need evacuate. Include:
- Enough food and water to last several days.
- Medication, face masks and disinfectant for everyone in your household.
- Pet supplies.
- When building a kit, people with disabilities should consider the items they use daily, as well as life-sustaining items.
- Have medication for at least three days in your emergency supplies.
- Check the expiration date on your emergency supplies, and replace any old items.
- Get the kids involved in building their own emergency kit.
- Kids bored? We can help. Check out our online Ready Kids Build A Kit game.
- Include your child's favorite stuffed animals, board games, books or music in their emergency kit to comfort them in a disaster.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NC Disaster Response and RecoveryIn recent years, hurricanes and tropical storms have devastated parts of North Carolina. The UNC Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility has compiled a list of environmental health resources as part of the UNC community’s effort to provide relief and recovery to impacted communities. You can view resources on moisture and mold cleanup, safe drinking water and food, mosquito and insect control, air quality hazards, child care needs, and additional environmental health resources here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,267,333 COVID-19 cases, 14,894 deaths, and 3,790 hospitalizations. 51% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.
There are currently 10,336 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 102 deaths in Orange County. 78% of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated.
For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day around noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.
Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
