NCDHHS to Host Livestream Cafecito and Tele-Town Hall on COVID-19 Boosters in North Carolina on April 26 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH     The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and Spanish language tele-town hall on Tuesday, 6-7 p.m. to discuss COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

    Key topics include:

• The importance of staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines
• How informing and engaging the community keeps people protected
• Ways to take care of your overall health this spring and summer

    Participants include Viviana S. Martinez-Bianchi, M.D., FAAFP, director for Health Equity for Duke University's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and co-founder of LATIN-19; Jorge Archila, Guatemalan Consul General in Raleigh; Claudia Velasco Osorio, Mexican Consul General in Raleigh; and Yazmin Garcia Rico, MSW, director of Latinx and Hispanic Policy and Strategy for NCDHHS.

    The Cafecito will stream live from the NCDHHS social media accounts, where viewers can submit questions. The event includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions to help ensure everyone who is interested can participate. People can also dial into the event by calling (855) 756-7520, Ext. 80956#.

    When compared with non-Hispanic groups, a higher percentage of Hispanic and Latino residents received their initial vaccines. However, a larger percentage are overdue for their COVID-19 booster dose. Of those who are eligible, nearly 64% have not received their booster. This percentage is larger than any other racial or ethnic group in the state.

    As we move into the next stage of the pandemic, NCDHHS encourages individuals to make the best choices to manage risk for themselves and their families. Staying up-to-date on vaccines continues to provide the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. This means getting all recommended vaccine doses based on your age and health condition, as well as a booster when eligible. People 50 and older and those over 12 with conditions that weaken their immune system are now eligible for a second booster to further their protection. Getting tested if you have symptoms, wearing a tight-fitting mask, distancing and washing your hands all add layers of protection.

    NCDHHS Cafecito's and tele-town halls are part of the state's ongoing public engagement to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure equitable access to timely information, resources and COVID-19 vaccines.

    The NCDHHS social media platforms will host the livestream: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Visit the channel of your choice to watch the event, which will begin streaming at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.

• NC Department of Health and Human Services
• 2001 Mail Service Center
• Raleigh, NC 27699-2001
• Ph: (919) 855-4840
• news@dhhs.nc.gov