Governor Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Kinsley Stress Importance of Vaccines and Boosters to Combat Omicron Variant | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    RALEIGH: With cases of COVID-19 reaching record highs and hospitalizations increasing, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley called on all North Carolinians to get vaccinated and get a booster as soon as they are eligible to protect themselves from severe illness from the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19.

    "For people who have been vaccinated and especially for those who have gotten boosters, the new Omicron variant has been less severe than previous surges," said Governor Roy Cooper. "With these vaccines and boosters we have an amazing tool to save people's lives and beat this pandemic - and we'll keep our foot on the gas when it comes to getting more shots and more boosters administered."

    Early studies show that boosters greatly increase someone's immune response and provide greater protection against the Omicron variant than no vaccine. The booster is especially important for those over 65 or in other populations at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

    The Governor and Secretary also urged the use of well-fitting, multi-layer masks as another layer of protection against spread of the virus. If possible, wear a surgical or procedure mask, a KN95, or an N95. NCDHHS is making some higher-grade masks available for adults at no cost in more places that need them, such as long-term care facilities and federally qualified health centers, and for schools staff and populations like migrant farm workers which at higher risk of exposure or severe illness. These organizations and those that provide essential services can request these masks online at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/RequestMasks, and requests will be prioritized.

    "Testing and wearing a mask are essential tools in slowing the spread of COVID-19," Secretary Kinsley said. "But the bottom line is that vaccines and boosters are the number one thing you can do to protect your health."

    Governor Cooper also announced plans to extend Executive Order 224, which aims to curb COVID-19 by requiring vaccines or testing of state employees in cabinet agencies. That Order defined fully vaccinated as having two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and directed the Office of State Human Resources to issue the policy to enforce this requirement. Under the new Order, OSHR will be given the authority to include boosters in the definition of fully vaccinated when appropriate.

    To date, North Carolina has administered over 14.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 69 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated. About 74 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 95 percent of North Carolinians 65 and over. About 44 percent of eligible adults have received their booster shot.

    Vaccines are available for those ages 5 and older, and boosters are available for those 16 and older. Monday the Food and Drug Administration authorized boosters for children 12 through 15 years old, but the CDC must take action before they are available. Today the CDC accepted the FDA recommendation to shorten the time for a Pfizer booster to five months after the second shot. The CDC also recommended a third dose after 28 days for immunocompromised children ages 5-11.

    Information on testing locations, free tests and home tests is available at ncdhhs.gov/gettested. North Carolinians can learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines at myspot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish). Use NCDHHS' online tool Find a Vaccine Location to find a nearby vaccination site. The North Carolina Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567 can also help you make an appointment. It is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends.


    Contact: Jordan Monaghan

    Phone: (919) 814-2100  •      Email: govpress@nc.gov
Go Back

HbAD0

Latest Bloodless Warfare: Politics

Glenn Beck: 'When the United States government can come after individuals, that's when you know our republic is crumbling.'
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement on the latest continuing resolution:
WASHINGTON – Today, as Joe Biden continues his Bankrupting America Tour in North Carolina, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel released the following statement:
Former President Donald Trump dominated the North Dakota Republican Caucus on Monday as he continues to inch closer to officially securing the party’s presidential nomination.
RALEIGH: Today, Governor Cooper visited a bus facility in Durham to highlight the recent significant federal funding for electric school buses in North Carolina.
The White House unveiled a new term on Thursday for the millions of illegal aliens who have flooded into the U.S. under President Joe Biden, which came just shortly before Biden took a trip to the border for a photo op at a spot that has had few illegal aliens cross.
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement after voting in favor of S.J. Res. 38, to overturn the Federal Highway Administration’s rule relating to ‘Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers.’
House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-TN) announced this week that he is reversing his decision to retire after receiving calls from former President Donald Trump and others.
Former President Donald Trump slammed President Joe Biden on Saturday after Biden apologized for calling the illegal alien who allegedly murdered a young woman in Georgia an “illegal” during his recent State of the Union speech.

HbAD1

RALEIGH: Lynddahl Telecom America Inc. (LTA), a duct solutions company for fiber optics installations, will create 54 new jobs in Gaston County, Governor Cooper announced today.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said this week that the media and Democrat politicians are doing everything they can to hide the fact that the man who is accused of murdering a Georgia college student last week is an illegal alien
Illegal immigrants 'effectively left in legal limbo without any way to pursue asylum,' says non-partisan data analytics group
Former President Donald Trump called on 81-year-old President Joe Biden to take a cognitive exam Thursday morning, just hours after the commander-in-chief’s doctor said he was “fit to serve” following his annual physical exam.
RALEIGH: Today, Governor Cooper joined Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to highlight the positive impacts of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina and record Affordable Care Act enrollment numbers.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) tore into President Joe Biden during an interview over the weekend for creating the catastrophe on the U.S. southern border.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday on his “actions to fight crime and make our communities safer,” President Joe Biden boasted, “we beat the NRA,” adding, “We’re going to finish the job.”

HbAD2

 
Back to Top