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Indoor Mask Mandate Continues for Orange County
With several key COVID metrics increasing, Orange County will continue its indoor countywide mask mandate. The mandate applies to anyone 2 years and older, regardless of vaccination status.
Orange County is experiencing a surge in new cases, mostly among the unvaccinated, despite having one of the highest rates of vaccination in the state with 71 percent of the population fully vaccinated. Face coverings will still be required in all indoor public places, including public transportation facilities and vehicles. The mandate will be reevaluated mid-January.
READ MORE.
En Español
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COVID-19 Booster Shot Eligibility Expanded to Anyone Age 18 or Older
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended booster vaccine shots for all adults 18 and older to help strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19.
If you received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you can get your booster six months after your second shot. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can get your booster two months after your shot.
Anyone over 50 or at high risk, as well as those 18 or older who were vaccinated more than two months ago with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, should get a booster dose now. Additionally, fully vaccinated people who received their first COVID-19 vaccine outside of the U.S. or in clinical trials with a brand not currently authorized can now receive a Pfizer booster shot when they are eligible.
READ MORE.
En Español
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23rd Holiday Carolina Blood Drive is Dec. 8!Treatments don’t stop over the holidays for patients who rely on transfusions as part of their care. The Red Cross needs to keep a sufficient supply of blood available for hospitals to treat patients. You can help prevent a shortage by bleeding Carolina blue and donating blood at the Holiday Carolina Blood Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Fetzer Hall.
READ MORE.
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Food Safety Tips for Your Holiday Turkey
Handling poultry (chickens and turkey) incorrectly and undercooking it are the most common problems that lead to foodborne disease outbreaks linked to poultry. Follow these tips to help you safely prepare your next holiday turkey meal.
Thaw Your Turkey Safely
Thaw turkeys: - in the refrigerator in a container;
- in a leak-proof plastic bag in a sink of cold water (change the water every 30 minutes); or
- in the microwave, following the microwave oven manufacturer's instructions.
Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A thawing turkey must defrost at a safe temperature. When the turkey is left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe. Bacteria can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.Read more.
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This Thanksgiving Stay Safe While Doing Indoor and Outdoor Activities with OthersREAD MORE about how to lower the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 this Thanksgiving.
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Some Reasons Why Vaping is NOT Safe
Current e-cigarette users have double the odds of having a diagnosis of depression compared to those who have never vaped. To sign up for FREE one-on-one counseling, as well as patches, gum, and lozenges, call 919-245-2480 or email Rita Krosner smokefreeoc@orangecountync.gov. Learn more: https://www.orangecountync.gov/461/Smoking-Cessation
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Clinic Calendar as a Printable PDF
The free COVID-19 testing clinics hosted by OCHD are conducted by two different vendors, StarMed Healthcare in Hillsborough and Optum in Chapel Hill. Please register with the appropriate vendor depending on which location you would like to attend.
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Vaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, or a booster please bring your vaccination card with the record of your previous doses. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot, or call (919) 913-8088 with any questions. The call center and vaccine clinics will be closed on Thanksgiving and the Friday afterwards.
The Hillsborough walk-in clinic at Bonnie B. Davis now serves ages 5 and up for their COVID-19 vaccine primary series and boosters. WALK-INS WELCOME IN HILLSBOROUGH!
The Chapel Hill clinic, however, is by appointment only. Ages 5 and up can be vaccinated! To make an appointment call (919) 913-8088 or visit www.myspotnc.gov to make an appointment.
Regular Vaccine Clinics
Bonnie B. Davis Environment & Agricultural Center
1020 US Hwy 70 W, Hillsborough, NC
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:00am - 4:30pm
Please call (877) 505-6723 to schedule an appointment.
***Ages 5 and up only.
***Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available.
Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Please call (919) 913-8088 to schedule an appointment.
***Ages 5 and up.
***Moderna, J&J, and Pfizer vaccines are available.
Pop-Up Walk-In Vaccine Clinics
In addition to our regularly scheduled walk-in clinics (see graphic above), the Orange County Health Department is pleased to offer pop-up vaccine clinics to all community members ages 5 and older. You may register and make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome as well.
Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
Wednesday, December 1 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español
J&J and Pfizer vaccines available
Collin's Crossing Apartments
501 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro
Saturday, December 4 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español
Pfizer vaccines available for children ages 5 to 11.
Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
Wednesday, December 8 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español
J&J and Pfizer vaccines available
Rogers Road Community Center
101 Edgar Street, Chapel Hill
Saturday, December 11 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Flyers: English, Español
J & J, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for ages 12 and up.
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Why did I decide it was time for my 5 to 11-year-old to get their COVID-19 vaccine? By Jenny Jensen, MSN, MPH, RN
How did you decide to vaccinate your five-year old?
This was not an easy decision for me. It was important to me to fully understand the risks and benefits – and not just for people generally, but for children her age. I knew that young children were less likely to have severe disease from COVID-19, so I was only going to feel comfortable vaccinating her if the vaccine was highly effective and very safe. When Pfizer released their data, I followed the FDA and CDC discussions closely to make sure that: 1) the vaccine was highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, and 2) there were no severe side effects. Thankfully, both turned out to be true. What really helped push me to sign up for an appointment was a friend whose entire family got COVID-19. None of them ended up in the hospital, but their daughter is the same age as mine, and she had a fever of 105 degrees for several days. That would have terrified me as a parent. I realized there are cases like this happening all the time. We don’t read about them in the hospitalization figures because they’re not sick enough to be hospitalized, but they’re still sicker than I would ever want my child to be.
Did you have any concerns about the vaccination?
I knew that the clinical trials were too small to detect rare events (3,082 trial participants), so I was worried there could be a rare side effect like myocarditis, but I felt reassured that the FDA and CDC scientists unanimously felt that the benefits of the vaccine would outweigh such possible and rare risks. At this point 2.5 million children have been vaccinated, and we have not seen any reports of rare side effects, which I find very reassuring. I also think that the benefits to our entire community are obvious: an end to masking at school, and a return to regular activities and field trips for kids. Those benefits are known and real, and that outweighs any fears I might have of an as-yet-unknown risk.
What does your child think about the vaccine?
She has amazed me with her ability to adapt to this pandemic since day one. She wears masks without complaint and shows off the thorough handwashing skills she has learned. She told me that at Circle Time, they had to share their feelings and why they felt that way, and she shared that she was excited and happy, because she was getting her COVID vaccine! She knows that getting vaccinated keeps her safe and moves us one step closer to ending this pandemic. She later told me that she is still scared about the shot, but I reassured her that her dad and I had both gotten ours, and our boosters, and those barely hurt at all. I’ve promised her a Happy Meal when we’re all done, which she is very excited about! She has reminded me about five times that she wants the apple slices and the French fries, and I’ve reassured her she’ll get both.
What would you say to families who are thinking about getting their child vaccinated?
I understand feeling more cautious about vaccinating a young child than an older child or an adult, since I felt that way myself. I would recommend that you figure out what your questions and concerns are. Write them down and then ask your child’s health care provider. I was able to get my questions answered by reading the study results myself, since I have graduate training in epidemiology. If you don’t have that training, I would be very cautious about who you are trusting to look at those data for you. It is so easy to manipulate numbers to make them sound good or bad. The person who is caring for your child has no agenda other than keeping your child safe, so they are a great person to talk to about this. If you are still on the fence, I think it can be helpful to remember that all of our nation’s top public health scientists are in agreement that this is safe and will help protect your child. Finally, I would consider how you might feel if you child does end up being one of those unfortunate kids who gets really sick. Will your future self consider your reasons not to vaccinate good enough, even in the face of your child being ill or even hospitalized? Or would you feel regret? If you think you might feel regret, that is a sign that you should get your child vaccinated.
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,524,078 COVID-19 cases, 18,676 deaths, and 1,113 hospitalizations. 57% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.
There are currently 12,181 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 110 deaths in Orange County. 71% 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.
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