Anyone who’s been watching the crowds packed to the rafters at the NBA or National Hockey League playoff games knows that most people across the country have pretty much forgotten about COVID-19.
However, on Wednesday, May 25, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) put out a lengthy press release reminding everyone that they’re still in danger of getting the disease.
For those interested in keeping up with COVID, here are some of the highlights of the department’s latest status report on the disease:
- While North Carolinians gradually return to pre-pandemic life, this week there was an increase in reported cases and hospital admissions when compared with the numbers from last week.
- Currently, 77 percent of the adult population in the state has been vaccinated with at least one dose.
- 55 percent of those who’ve been vaccinated have had at least one booster shot.
- 38 percent of children and teens have been vaccinated with at least one dose.
While there was a rush to get vaccinated when the vaccines first became available, currently, the vaccine rate in the state has fallen to a slight trickle, and appointments are readily available for anyone who wants them.
Information about getting vaccinated is available at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines.
The state’s focus this week is on getting younger kids fully vaccinated.
“Children ages 5 to 11 years old can receive a COVID-19 booster shot five months after the date of their most recent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose,” the reminder from NCDHHS reads.
NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley said in the release that it’s important to remember kids should get vaccinated for COVID-19.
“Summer brings vacations, play dates and family gatherings, and it’s important for everyone to stay up to date on their vaccines,” Kinsley said in a prepared remark. “Children ages 5 to 11 can now have the extra protection of a booster dose, which significantly increases protection against serious illness, hospitalization, death and long-term complications from COVID-19.”
The US Food and Drug Administration’s authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations are that children ages 5 to 11 get boosted.
State officials note that that advice comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the rise once again in North Carolina.
No one cares about Covid, Monkey Pox should be you concern! We need all new vaccines, monkey facemasks!
Ah yes, some intern at the CDC heard Micky Dolenz on the radio for the first time & all of a sudden wants to put us all on on the last train to Clarksville to create a new crisis we can be ‘saved’ from before the November erections. I think he should stop wearing a dress, go back to his mother’s basement, and spank whatever monkee started this mess.
Smallpox vaccine that most people have had since childhood is 85% effective against Monkeypox and far less transmissive that the current strain of covid. While your sarcasm is noted, nobody is saying covid is nearly as dangerous as it was with the original variant but for the older crowd, caution should be taken. Be well.
Hey Gov! Get the f*** out of my life!