Know Before You Go to Seasonal Gatherings: NCDHHS Livestream Cafecito and Tele-Town Hall | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH     The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss updated COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 and up, testing and treatments, flu vaccines and what North Carolinians need to know before they go to seasonal gatherings.

    As winter begins and people spend more time gathering indoors with friends and family, it's important for everyone to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to help protect against serious illness, hospitalization, death and long-term complications from the virus.

    Seasonal illnesses, like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are also circulating widely and increasingly in North Carolina and the country. Flu shots are available to everyone ages 6 months and up. Families are encouraged to take precautions and limit close contact with people who are sick to help prevent the spread of seasonal illness.

    An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for everyone ages 5 and older to protect against COVID-19 variants. The updated booster is also known as 'bivalent' for its ability to provide the most up-to-date protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death from the original COVID-19 strain as well as variants. Everyone ages 5 and up can get the updated COVID-19 booster two months after they finish their primary series or any booster dose and may be able to get the updated COVID-19 booster at the same time as other routine vaccines, such as an annual flu shot.

    Topics will include the following:

• Updated COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 and older
• COVID-19 testing and treatments
• Seasonal illness prevention: flu and RSV
• How to prepare for winter gatherings

    The event will be moderated by Paola Jaramillo, a social communicator, journalist, entrepreneur and co-founder and executive director for Enlace Latino NC. Participants include Dr. Gabriela M. Maradiaga Panayotti, associate professor of pediatrics for Duke University Medical Center; Sheila Arias, North Carolina campaign director for MomsRising; 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 also includes a tele-town hall, which invites people by phone to listen in and submit questions. People can also dial into the event by calling (855)-756-7520 Ext. 87983#.

    NCDHHS Cafecito's and tele-town halls are part of the state's ongoing public efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, ensure equitable access to timely information, resources and COVID-19 vaccines and prepare communities to protect against seasonal illness.

    The NCDHHS social media platforms will host the livestream on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Visit the channel of your choice to watch the event, which will begin streaming at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

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