Orange County Health News
August 25, 2021 |
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Back to School with a Mask
This year many children are returning to school with a new item in their list of back to school items- a mask. Here are some helpful tips on going back to school with a mask:
Make sure they fit!
Fit is important both for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and for comfort. Adjustable ear loops can help to fit a mask to your child’s face but remember you will need to help your child adjust the ear loops to the desired length every time they put on the mask. It is a great idea to send your child to school with an extra mask in case they need to change it out during the day. Often the mask slips down so the nose is not covered. To protect your child and others it is very important to be sure that both the mouth and nose are covered. A lanyard is also very helpful so that they can lower their mask to eat and drink throughout the day.
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Know That Masks Are Safe for Nearly All Children Over 2 Years Old
Masks are made from breathable materials that will not block the oxygen your child needs. This is because oxygen flows through and around the mask, while blocking the spray or spit and respiratory droplets that contain the virus. Masks will not affect your child's ability to learn or focus in school. The vast majority of children age 2 or older can safely wear masks for extended periods of time, such as the school day or at child care. This includes children with many medical conditions.
How to Get Your Child to Wear the Mask
At this point many children are used to wearing masks. But if your child is new to wearing a mask it is important to model the behavior that you want to see. If parents are wearing a mask, their children will follow their lead. Children love routine and structure, as well as encouragement. Make packing a mask part of your daily routine, just as you would with a lunchbox and backpack. To encourage them to wear the mask, you may offer a gold star or a small reward each time they do it. It can become a game! Make it fun and personal. You can find fun, colorful masks in many stores. Looks for ones with superhero characters, movie favorites, silly faces, or animal prints. Try several styles until you find one or two that your child finds comfortable.
How to Wear and Take Care of Cloth Face Coverings
Be sure to wash your hands before putting on your face covering and remember to wash them after each use, just as you would do with an undergarment. |
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Disposable Mask Recommendations
While disposable masks are intended for single use, they can be safely reused several times if in good condition. After a mask has been used, place it in a paper bag and let sit for 3-4 days. The mask should then be safe to reuse. If the mask is visibly soiled or no longer fits well, discard. Depending on the daily activities of your child and duration of wear, you may only be able to reuse the mask 2-3 times. |
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Plan Released for COVID-19 Booster Shots
The Administration has released its plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people, pending FDA and CDC approval. Here's what you need to know: - The COVID-19 vaccines are still very effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the Delta variant.
- If you haven't been vaccinated yet, you should get vaccinated right away. Nearly all cases of severe disease, hospitalization, and death continue to occur among those not yet vaccinated at all.
- Although we continue to see stable and highly effective protection against hospitalizations and severe outcomes for people who are fully vaccinated, we are seeing a decrease in vaccine effectiveness against infection.
- The reasons for the decline in vaccine effectiveness are unclear. It could be because the Delta variant is much more infectious.
- We will begin offering booster shots this fall, subject to FDA and CDC approval.
- Nursing home residents may be among the first groups with waning immune protection from the vaccines. Vaccination of nursing home residents, staff members, and visitors should be prioritized because residents remain at higher risk for COVID-19 despite vaccination. People at higher risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 may also be in greater need of the booster dose.
This virus is constantly changing, and we are following the science. Vaccines remain the most powerful tool that we have against COVID-19. |
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FDA Approves First COVID Vaccine
On Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
“The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.”
Read More
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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.
Smith Middle School, in the Gym
9201 Seawell School Rd., Chapel Hill
Wednesday, August 18th from 10:00am - 2:00pm
Flyer: English/Español
Last Fridays, The Old Courthouse in Hillsborough
104 E. King St., Hillsborough, NC
Friday, August 27 from 6:00 - 9:00pm
Flyer: English/Español
Farmers Market Pavilion
140 E. Margaret Ln., Hillsborough, NC
Tuesday, August 31st, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Flyer: English, Español
Farmers Market Pavilion
140 E. Margaret Ln., Hillsborough, NC
Wednesday, September 1st from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Flyer: English, Español
Cedar Ridge High School
1125 New Grady Brown School Road, Hillsborough, NC
Thursday, September 2nd from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Flyer: English/Español
Farmers Market Pavilion
140 E. Margaret Ln., Hillsborough, NC
Wednesday, September 8th from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Flyer: Coming soon!
Smith Middle School Gym
9201 Seawell School Rd., Chapel Hill
Wednesday, September 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Flyer: English/Spanish
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 |
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New Testing Hours and a Pop-Up Testing Event
In response to the increased demand for testing the Orange County Health Department has expanded the weekday testing schedule and is offering a two-day testing event at Cedar Ridge High School. The new EXPANDED HOURS will allow people to get a free COVID-19 test before work!
Chapel Hill: 7:00am - 3:00pm at 2501 Homestead Rd.
Hillsborough: 10:00am - 4:00pm at 300 W. Tryon St.
Pop-Up Free COVID-19 Testing Event at Cedar Ridge High School
1125 New Grady Brown School Road, Hillsborough, NC
Wednesday, August 25th and Thursday, August 26th
Flyer: English/Español
Testing will be in the back of the school by the football field.
For more information please visit www.orangecountync.gov/2451/testing
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The Big Pause:
Collective Rest for Collective PowerBlack Breastfeeding Week (BBW) was created in 2013 by 3 national breastfeeding advocates in response to 40+ years of a gaping racial disparity in breastfeeding rates. Since then, BBW has been celebrated throughout the nation with over 800 community events, 10+ million social media impressions, and $5000+ distributed in community grants and prizes and featured in national media outlets including nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, Harpers Bazaar, Healthline, Ebony Magazine,
and The Huffington Post, among others. Black Breastfeeding Week is the sole health campaign with an explicit national focus with online and local impact on Black maternal and infant health through breastfeeding.
This year’s theme: The Big Pause--Collective Rest for Collective Power provides an opportunity for mission-aligned brands to support Black women, birthing people and families by honoring the power of rest in breastfeeding, maternal health, and social justice outcomes. This year, after an unprecedented global pandemic and in solidarity with the multi-racial
movement for Black lives, we honor rest as restorative and revolutionary for Black families. Furthermore, breastfeeding/body feeding is an important moment of rest in early motherhood that must be valued, not undermined.
This year’s signature event, The Big Pause: Festival of Rest will be a virtual wellness event on August 28, 2021, featuring “rooms” and spaces for meditation, yoga, exercise, cooking, creative arts and, of course, a lactation lounge and more. Continuing in the tradition of BBW will be a series of live and recorded webinars, panels and interviews throughout the week focusing on The State of Black Breastfeeding.
To learn more about these events and the history of BBW, please visit www.blackbreastfeedingweek.org.
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,172,571 COVID-19 cases, 14,212 deaths, and 3,503 hospitalizations. 49% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.
There are currently 9,602 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 102 deaths in Orange County. 77% 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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