January 4, 2023

We hope everyone has a safe and healthy 2023!

January is Cervical Health Awareness month

The most important things you can do to help prevent cervical cancer are to get vaccinated against HPV, have regular screening tests, and go back to the doctor if your screening test results are not normal. People of all genders can be vaccinated against HPV.

Please call the health department at 919-245-2400 to make an appointment for screening exams, HPV vaccination, or other routine health needs.

Available now: COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine for Children Aged 6 months through 5 years

Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine products include:

The Bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 6 months through 4 years.
The Bivalent Moderna vaccine for children aged 6 months through 5 years.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, testing and treatments, or to find locations to get a COVID-19 and flu vaccine, visit MySpot.nc.gov or contact the Orange County COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center by phone at 919-913-8088.

If you’re able to schedule both your flu shot and your COVID-19 booster for the same appointment, it’s safe to do so.

January is Stalking Awareness Month

Stalking affects millions of people in the US. Stalking occurs when someone repeatedly harasses or threatens someone else, causing fear or safety concerns. Most often, stalking occurs by someone the victim knows or with whom they had an intimate relationship.

Help prevent stalking by knowing the warning signs and how to get help.

Victim Connect: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or TTY
1-800-787-3224 En Español
The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month

Birth defects are common, costly, and critical conditions that affect 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States each year.

Women of reproductive age need 400 mcg of folic acid every day

All women of reproductive age should get 400 mcg of folic acid every day to get enough folic acid to help prevent some birth defects because

About half of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned, and
Major birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine occur very early in pregnancy (3-4 weeks after conception), before most women know they are pregnant.

Orange County Health Department offers pregnancy care and family planning services for people of all genders. To schedule an appointment, please call the health department at 919-245-2400.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Please be aware that the Chapel Hill vaccine clinic is by appointment only. The Hillsborough vaccine clinic located at Bonnie B. Davis Environment & Agricultural center has been CLOSED effective 11/30/2022.

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.

Ages 6 months and up can be vaccinated and boosted! To make an appointment call (919) 913-8088.

Chapel Hill
Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Appointments only
Please call 919-913-8088 for appointment information.
***Ages 6 months and up.
***Moderna, J&J, Novavax, and Pfizer vaccines are available.

North Carolina COVID-19 Cases

The following data is based on the data available as of 12/21/2022 according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). NCDHHS did not update numbers or dashboards in the last week of December due to winter holidays. NCDHHS reports 3,316,814 COVID-19 cases, 27,629 deaths and 805 hospitalizations. 67% of North Carolina's population is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination.

There are currently 37,465 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 152 deaths in Orange County.

Orange County COVID-19 vaccinations:
Percentage of Population Vaccinated with at least One Dose: 82%
Percentage of Population Vaccinated with Two Doses or one Dose J&J: 79%
Percentage of Population Vaccinated with One New Booster Dose: 35%

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.

More information may be found at www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus

Health Department Locations

Whitted Human Services Center
300 W. Tryon St.
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Home of OCHD Medical, Dental Clinic and Staff Offices

Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Home of OCHD Southern Medical Clinic

West Campus Office Building
131 W. Margaret Lane
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Home of Environmental Health Services

Contact Information

If you are an individual or a medical practice with questions about COVID-19, call the Orange County Health Department at (919) 913-8088 weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Spanish and other languages spoken.

Contact the Orange County Health Department’s Public Information Officer at: healthpio@orangecountync.gov.

Orange County Health Department:
Web: www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus
Phone: 919-245-2400
Facebook: Orange County Health Department
Instagram: OrangeHealthNC
Twitter: Orange Health NC
Youtube: OCHDNC

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