Emergency Preparedness and Response:
March 10, 2021 |
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When You've Been Fully Vaccinated:
How to Protect Yourself and Others
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of recommendations on activities that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can safely resume.
The new guidance—which is based on the latest science — includes recommendations for how and when a fully vaccinated individual can visit with other people who are fully vaccinated and with other people who are not vaccinated. This guidance represents a first step toward returning to everyday activities in our communities. CDC will update these recommendations as more people are vaccinated, rates of COVID-19 in the community change, and additional scientific evidence becomes available.
“We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH. “There are some activities that fully vaccinated people can begin to resume now in their own homes. Everyone – even those who are vaccinated – should continue with all mitigation strategies when in public settings. As the science evolves and more people get vaccinated, we will continue to provide more guidance to help fully vaccinated people safely resume more activities.”
CDC encourages people to get vaccinated with the first available FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves and to help bring the pandemic to a close. The currently authorized vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are safe and highly effective at preventing serious COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death.
A growing body of scientific evidence also suggests that fully vaccinated people are less likely to have asymptomatic infection and are potentially less likely to transmit SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to other people. Therefore, fully vaccinated people can safely take fewer precautions in certain situations.
Specifically, CDC’s guidance today recommends that fully vaccinated people can do the following:
- Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart.
- Visit with unvaccinated people from one other household indoors without wearing masks or staying 6 feet apart if everyone in the other household is at low risk for severe disease.
- Refrain from quarantine and testing if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 after contact with someone who has COVID-19.
A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. Although vaccinations are accelerating, CDC estimates that just 9.2% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine that the FDA has authorized for emergency use.
While the new guidance is a positive step, the vast majority of people need to be fully vaccinated before COVID-19 precautions can be lifted broadly. Until then, it is important that everyone continues to adhere to public health mitigation measures to protect the large number of people who remain unvaccinated.
CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people continue to take these COVID-19 precautions when in public, when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple other households, and when around unvaccinated people who are at high risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19:- Wear a well-fitted mask.
- Stay at least 6 feet from people you do not live with.
- Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings.
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- Follow guidance issued by individual employers.
- Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.
CDC has released resources to help people make informed decisions when they are fully vaccinated. |
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Congratulations to Winners of Our
Best COVID-Safe Business Awards!
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Free Daily COVID Testing
No-cost daily COVID testing is still available! Testing is an important tool to help prevent the spread of the virus throughout the community. We do not require a doctors note/referral, and we will test everyone with or without symptoms. People of all ages can be tested. We have interpreters on site and capacity to do virtual interpretation.
Weekday Testing Hillsborough
COVID-19 testing is available every weekday Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm at Whitted Human Services Center at 300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough NC 27278. Pre-registration is encouraged and may be done online. Select Orange County when registering:
https://unityphm.com/campaigns/starmed
There will be a few exceptions due to holidays, weather conditions, or other events. Please check our calendar below for testing dates.
Monday-Saturday Testing Chapel Hill
COVID-19 testing is available every weekday Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm at R7 Parking Lot at 725 MLK Blvd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Pre-registration is encouraged and may be done online:
https://lhi.care/covidtesting.
There will be a few exceptions due to holidays, weather conditions, or other events. Please check our calendar below for testing dates.
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Equity in Vaccination: A Plan to Work with Communities of Color Toward COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond
How COVID-19 vaccines could be a starting point for addressing inequity and mending broken systems.
A Q&A with Monica Shoch-Spana and Alexandre White
March 4, 2021
Recovery from a disaster like the COVID-19 pandemic won’t be easy and cannot be summed up as a “one- or two-shot solution.”
COVID-19 has laid bare brutal existing inequities in the U.S. that cleave along socioeconomic and racial/ethnic lines. True recovery will require mending broken systems and innovation to address generations-old inequity.
Although they are not the entire solution, vaccines do offer a starting point. CommuniVax, a working group on equity in COVID-19 vaccination, released a report, Equity in Vaccination: A Plan to Work with Communities of Color Toward COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond,
with actions for state and local officials to implement and support a vaccination campaign that works with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities to remedy COVID-19 impacts, repair the inequity-magnifying health burdens, and generate lasting opportunities and benefits in these communities.
The strategies laid out in the report require three critical resources that have historically been in short supply when it comes to investing in the well-being of these communities: time, funding, and interest. By investing in robust vaccination programs, the authors point out, there’s an opportunity to change and improve.
Co-chair of Communivax Monica Schoch-Spana, PhD, MA, of the Center for Health Security, and report contributor and Communivax committee member Alexandre White, PhD, MSc, an associate professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins, break down some of the report’s key points in this Q&A.
Your report cites specific examples of systemic racism that explain why the pandemic has hit communities of color so much harder. Can you talk through a couple of those examples?
The persistent legacies and ongoing effects of racial oppression have deep health effects. Hispanic, Black, and Indigenous individuals end up in the hospital at roughly four times the rate of white people and are almost three times as likely to die from the disease.
While these statistics provide some small insight into the racially stratified effects of the disease, racial segregation, as well as labor force dynamics that bear the markers of racial disparities and discrimination, also affect the capacity of BIPOC individuals to effectively mitigate the risks of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus: The Bureau of Labor Statistics
has reported that compared to 30% of the employed White population who are able to work from home if needed, only 16.2% of Hispanic and 19.7% of Black people are employed in positions that allow remote work.
Further, as Black and Hispanic workers are overrepresented in essential work fields such as health care provision and also in the service industry such as restaurant and food service sectors, strategies to effectively mitigate exposure to the disease by staying at home are compromised.
We know that participation in particular economic sectors is conditioned by the histories of slavery, segregation in housing and education, and other legacies of ongoing systemic racism. These myriad factors and others, including inadequate social service provision throughout this pandemic, have contributed to these yawning racial disparities in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States.
How can vaccines help in the short term?
Obviously, the significant protection conveyed through widespread vaccine coverage will bring much-needed relief by interrupting viral transmission, reducing health burdens, and hastening a return to familiar home, work, and school routines.
However, if we solely prioritize the rapid delivery of vaccines, we will only succeed in providing protection to those most easily accessible. If we focus our vaccine delivery efforts on speed and equity, then we will prioritize not only the rapid delivery of vaccines but reach those most historically deprived and isolated from health care access.
This is absolutely critical to an effective COVID-19 vaccine campaign and can only be achieved through the collaboration, cooperation, and leadership of those communities historically underserved by public health and health care services.
How can vaccines help in the long term?
COVID-19 will have long-lasting physical, psychological, and financial effects, especially in BIPOC communities. Because of this, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign cannot be viewed as a final step in returning to “normalcy.” Instead, it needs to be seen as a step toward a more complete recovery that can, and should, include meaningful social change.
CommuniVax sees the equitable delivery of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as a gateway to the more foundational work of building partnerships and programs with communities and people who have been disenfranchised from the decision-making processes in public health and health care provision.
Too often, BIPOC communities are either seen by health authorities as the docile recipients of health interventions, left out of research design and leadership roles, or, at worst, seen as communities to be experimented on. This is evidenced by numerous historical examples including, most infamously, the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male.
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout must challenge these legacies and place equity at the center of its objectives. We hope that this will create a sea change in how public health is practiced in the U.S., and lead to significant investments in equitable public health action. These investments could include developing a new workforce of community-based workers to help with testing, tracing, vaccination, etc., to stay on post-pandemic, as well as increased funding for community health centers, to name but a few examples.
Among your recommendations are to include “those with lived experiences” of health inequity. What might this look like and how can these experts help inform policies and programs?
To develop a genuine vaccination partnership with BIPOC individuals and organizations, health authorities must begin by listening to what people have to say about COVID-19 vaccines and by not having preformed ideas about what priorities should be or preconceived notions of how certain groups will perceive the vaccine.
BIPOC communities who have been hurt tragically and disproportionately by this pandemic require a thoughtfully planned forum—one that conveys a genuine tone of respectful interaction—in which to share experiences, impart observations, vent frustrations, express hopes, air skepticism, and relay questions.
This is about more than just a one-sided discussion where community members are dictated to by health actors without space for local and community leadership. Health actors must dedicate and invest real time to listen and let community members be the guides, not the audience. Acting immediately and at strategic milestones during and after COVID-19 vaccination efforts, jurisdiction leaders should be prepared to hear, sit with, and act on community feedback—for example, what we are getting right and what can be improved—and then circle back to assess whether community members feel that their input has made a difference.
If people feel they are heard and that their voices actually make a difference, trust will grow. If input is not acknowledged or is ignored, then mistrust will persist and potentially worsen.
Are there any existing partnerships/models that could serve as examples?
In our report, we highlight some terrific initiatives that embody the principles that we wish to highlight in promoting equity through the COVID-19 response and vaccine delivery: the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), the Health Equity Zones Initiative, and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Collaborative for Pacific Islander and Latinx Communities. Each represents a model for collaborative and equitable relationships between local communities and health agencies. You can find detailed summaries of their work in our report.
What were some notable concerns BIPOC and communities raised and that this report hopes to help policymakers and elected officials address?
While some of the most publicly visible issues that have been widely discussed in the news have related to vaccine confidence and safety, which we address, we also wish to highlight broader concerns of vaccine accessibility for hard-to-reach communities, as well as the importance of members of BIPOC communities being represented, listened to, and advocated for in the design and delivery of COVID-19 response strategies.
Alexandre White, PhD, MSc, is an assistant professor in the departments of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University and the History of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is also the associate director of the Center for Medical Humanities and Social Medicine.
Monica Schoch-Spana, PhD, MA, is a senior scholar at the Center for Health Security and a senior scientist in Environmental Health and Engineering. |
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NC Medicaid Managed Care Open Enrollment North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has begun mailing enrollment packets statewide and launched new resources for beneficiaries as it prepares for NC Medicaid Managed Care Open Enrollment which begins on March 15, 2021. Medicaid beneficiaries can now call the NC Medicaid Enrollment Call Center to learn more about NC Medicaid Managed Care and can download a free beneficiary enrollment mobile app. These new tools, as well as the NC Medicaid enrollment website, will assist beneficiaries in choosing a primary care provider (PCP) and a health plan for their families’ care. Some people will not need to choose a health plan because of the type of health services they need.
The NC Medicaid Enrollment Call Center number is 833-870-5500/TTY: 833-870-5588. The free mobile app, called NC Medicaid Managed Care is available on Google Play or the App Store. Mailing of enrollment packets is being done in batches and should arrive at beneficiary homes by Monday, March 15, 2021.
Open enrollment officially begins March 15, but beneficiaries can proceed now with online enrollment, or call the NC Medicaid Enrollment Call Center for assistance. |
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New Online Registration System for COVID-19 Vaccine Registration
Orange County Health Department has unveiled a new online registration system for residents seeking to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine. The new system will allow residents to choose how to be notified when an appointment is available—either via text, automated phone call or email—and will help the county manage the process to ensure that all vaccines are distributed efficiently.
The system went live on Tuesday, March 9, and replaces the county’s existing form. It may be accessed at the same link as the previous form: https://redcap.link/OCHDvax. Residents who have already registered, either via phone or the online form, will not have to re-register. Their information will be migrated into the new system.
“The automated system will help the county manage the COVID vaccine distribution more effectively,” said Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart. “We hope to receive more vaccines as supply increases, and this system will help us distribute them quickly.”
Residents are asked to save (919) 913-8088 and covid19vaccine@orangecountync.gov as trusted contacts to avoid the calls and emails being treated as spam.
Individuals who can’t access the Internet or need assistance filling out the form can register by calling (919) 913-8088 seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spanish and other languages are available.
“This is yet another tool in our toolbox aimed at ensuring the vaccination process is as efficient, effective, and equitable as possible,” said Orange County Emergency Services Director Kirby Saunders. “We are proud of everyone who has worked tirelessly to get this operational while also continuing to manage the ongoing vaccination process.”
Individuals who have previously registered but have received the vaccine from another provider will be able to remove themselves from the list by choosing that option when contacted.
Individuals who are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine will be notified when appointments become available based on their place in line. When you receive a notice that an appointment is available, you must respond quickly to guarantee your spot. Spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you are unable to make the appointment based on the time or location, or you do not respond before all slots are filled, you will remain in the queue and will be notified the next time appointments are available.
If you get the vaccine from another provider, you can opt out of future notifications and be removed from the system.
Related Links
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Governor Cooper Reminds North Carolinians to Prepare and Practice for Severe WeatherGovernor Roy Cooper has declared March 7-13 Severe Weather Preparedness Week and urges North Carolinians to prepare and practice safety plans in case severe weather strikes.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are not unusual in North Carolina, and while spring is the most active season for severe weather, the recent thunderstorms that resulted in a deadly tornado prove they can happen anytime of the year.
“All North Carolinians need to prepare for severe weather, especially severe thunderstorms and tornados,” Governor Cooper said. “We have seen the devastation and deadly results these storms can bring. Having a preparedness plan, an emergency kit and a way to stay alert to weather reports will help protect you and your loved ones.”
On Wednesday, March 10 at 9:30 a.m., there will be a statewide tornado drill. This year, North Carolinians are being asked to practice their emergency plan using COVID-19 safety precautions. For those working remotely or at your place of employment, go to the lowest floor and the most interior room of the building you’re in, while wearing a mask and staying at least 6-feet away from people with whom you don’t live.
Test messages will be broadcast via the Emergency Alert System on radio and TV and on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios.
“We recognize the challenges of holding a tornado drill in the workplace during COVID. If possible, hold the drill in small groups at different times, where social distancing can be maintained but still allows everyone to have the experience. The drill is a great way to practice what to do when severe weather strikes,” said Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry.
North Carolina is no stranger to severe weather. In 2020, North Carolina recorded 48 tornado touchdowns, including one that spun up as a result of Hurricane Isaias in Bertie County, leaving two people dead. There were also 247 flood or flash flood events across the state and 609 severe thunderstorms with damaging winds or hail of 1-inch or larger.
Tornadoes form during severe thunderstorms when winds change direction and increase in speed. These storms can produce large hail and damaging winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. A tornado can develop rapidly with little warning, so having a plan in place will allow you to respond quickly.
Emergency Management officials recommend the following safety tips: - Develop a family emergency plan so each member knows what to do, where to go and who to call during an emergency.
- If thunder roars, go indoors! Lightning is close enough to strike you.
- Know where the nearest safe room is, such as a basement or interior room away from windows.
- Know the terms: WATCH means severe weather is possible. WARNING means severe weather is occurring; take shelter immediately.
- Assemble an emergency supply kit for use at home or in your vehicle. Make sure to include a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and bottled water.
- If driving, leave your vehicle immediately to seek shelter in a safe structure. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle and do not stop under an overpass or bridge.
- If there is no shelter available, take cover in a low-lying flat area.
Read Governor Cooper’s proclamation and get more information on tornadoes and overall emergency preparedness online at www.ReadyNC.org. |
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 877,764 COVID-19 cases, 11,595 deaths, and 1,075 hospitalizations.
17.7% of North Carolina's population are at least partially vaccinated, and 10.9% are fully vaccinated.
There are currently 7,829 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 96 deaths in Orange County. 23.5% of Orange County residents are at least partially vaccinated, and 15.8% 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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COVID-19 Community Resources
For more information on COVID-19 community resources in the county, please visit our webpage. Resources on specific topic areas, such as food access, education, housing, and others, are all accessible on our website, or at the links below. |
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