KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) - A youth-led organization is hosting two COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Thursday and Gov. Roy Cooper stopped by for a tour.
Kinston Teens is hosting the clinics to give out first vaccination doses and booster shots. The event will also feature music, educational resources and mask and hand sanitizer giveaways. The events are happening at the following locations:
Cooper thanked the healthcare workers who he says are having to shoulder a lot of the burden of the pandemic. “One of the reasons why I am here and one of the reasons we are working so hard is we want to keep people who catch COVID from getting severely ill, from having to go to the ICU, and from dying. It can be a real love letter to healthcare workers for people to get vaccinated and boosted," said Gov. Roy Cooper. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley also toured the clinic and spoke at the event. He said there have been more than 11,000 cases of COVID-19 in Lenoir County since the start of the pandemic and 600 in the last week alone. “Unfortunately the omicron variant is incredibly contagious,” Kinsley said. “We’re focused on doing three things. We want to save lives, we want to save hospital capacity for every emergency, and we want to keep our kids in the classroom. Seeing what we’re seeing here today is exactly how we do that," said Kody Kinsley, NCDHHS secretary. Cooper echoed Kinsley’s thoughts on keeping children in schools. “Keeping children safely in the classroom is one of the most important things that we have to do,” Cooper said. The governor also spoke of the importance of communities like Kinston that build up each other and work to keep each other safe, informed, and engaged in society. One Lenoir County healthcare worker and caregiver got her booster shot at the event, and urged others to do the same. “This is very serious, and everyone needs to be precautious,” said Tonia Hawkins. “Everyone needs to booster up if you haven’t gotten your booster yet.” Kinston Teens, which focuses on empowering young people through service, leadership, and civic engagement, has been working to fight the pandemic since March of 2020. CEO Chris Suggs says they plan to continue their work to support the community throughout the year. “We’ve been working very hard as a community, here in Kinston, to navigate this crisis and we’ve done a lot of it because of the support and the investments of our state leadership,” said Suggs. After Cooper visited the Holloway Community Center, the Kinston Teens team moved their PPE distribution to the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library. We are excited to continue making the COVID-19 vaccines available to our community, and be on the frontlines helping Kinston navigate this deadly pandemic. It is proven that vaccines and booster shots help prevent serious illness, death, and further mutations of the virus, and we want our neighbors to be protected," said Chasity Pate, coordinator of the organization’s COVID-19 response. For more information, click here or call (252) 522-8012. Appointments or pre-registration are not required.
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LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - COVID cases surge as thousands of students across Eastern North Carolina return to school this week after their winter break.
Students packed their backpacks and lunchboxes Wednesday morning and for Lenoir County students, they had the option of whether or not to also pack their mask. The option comes after a school board meeting on Monday maintained, by a vote of 4-3, that masks be optional for students and faculty in school. “I find a hard time understanding why this is being debated for this demographic of the population... children, and germs, and a close environment,” Hannah Perry, the mother of a third-grade student in Lenoir County Public Schools said. Perry is pleased with the way the school system handles some aspects of its COVID precautions. “The custodial is amazing and they are amazing with their sanitation,” she said. However, she is not so happy about other parts, like mask-wearing being optional. As students enter the halls of schools across the district, Patrick Holmes, a spokesperson for the school system, said, “The first day of school in the new year looks a lot like the last day of school for the last year.” He’s referring to the mask policy, in which the vote in December yielded the same optional mask-wearing result. “The mask question is up to the board of education,” Holmes said. “That’s a policy decision that the board is going to make. They vote on it every month.” The Lenoir County School Board isn’t the only board of education to have made this decision regarding masks. Face coverings are optional in Beaufort, Onslow, and Carteret counties’ schools. All four of these districts reaffirmed their rulings. “We are taking a number of steps in schools,” Holmes said. “From testing on request to the usual sanitation measures that we do, most of our students don’t eat in the cafeteria. They eat in the classroom. We keep groups as small as we can," said Holmes. The school board has also partnered with Lenoir County Health Director Pam Brown. “She was instrumental in working with our school board members and our district administrators in devising the current policy we have for optional face coverings,” Holmes said. For Perry, making face coverings optional has the same ring to it as making hygiene optional. She says if you saw someone leave the restroom without washing their hands, “you would almost want to encourage them to. I’ve encouraged my son and I bought a box of 100 masks for about $16 and it’s just such a low price to pay to keep him safe.” As for the school district administration, they will keep an eye on the COVID numbers in the community and in their schools. Holmes said, “I think we are doing all that we can and if the situation warrants it, we’ll adjust our practices.” The school system administration urges parents to keep their children home if they are sick and to get them vaccinated as soon as they become eligible. The district offers PCR testing upon request and has most of its students eat in the classroom in smaller groups to reduce outbreaks.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) - North Carolina reported on Thursday the most COVID-19 cases in a single day since the pandemic began.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said there were 18,571 new confirmed cases. The previous record for new cases was on January 9th at 11,708. State health officials say since Tuesday cases across the state have been spiking. On Wednesday, there were 9,377 new cases. Dr. Ron May, chief medical officer at CarolinaEast Medical, says the CDC anticipated this climb about a month ago. “The numbers that we are seeing are worrisome, but not unexpected,” said Dr. May. “We are concerned that even a very small proportion of these cases ending up in the hospital could overwhelm our hospital system and increase the loss of lives of those most vulnerable," said Kody Kinsley, DHHS secretary. The number of people in the hospital with the virus also continues to climb. The latest figures from DHHS show 2,258 hospitalizations, nearly doubling since the beginning of December. In Onslow County, testing numbers did not break record for the county, but lines were still full with individuals needing a COVID test. “Our testing centers are at very high capacity and are really seeing a tremendous need in the community,” said Onslow County health director Kristen Hoover. “We expect that the rest of the week will probably follow much of the same.” While waiting to be tested, Hoover says proper etiquette is important to ensure the safety of those getting tested as well as those performing the tests. “Try to mask when you’re around others, try not to spread anything to anyone else, and isolate yourself,” Hoover said. Daily case reports aren’t the only figure to have broken a state record today. The number of people visiting the emergency room for COVID-like illness sets a state-wide high at 4,171. While the emergency room is a good place to go if you are in need of immediate medical attention, Hoover reminds the public that it is not the place to go for a COVID test saying, “We want the emergency rooms to have the capacity to take care of those health needs that we see every day.” Ahead of New Year’s Eve, state health officials are warning people to avoid large gatherings, especially if they are unvaccinated. Dr. May sites predictions on the spread of omicron expecting cases to double every two to three days. “Just simple, basic arithmetic would tell you that it’s going to be a lot of people in a very short period of time,” said Dr. May. Health officials say to keep gatherings for the New Year small and host them outside. If inside, consider wearing masks and have windows open for ventilation.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Preliminary findings of new studies out of the United Kingdom and South Africa report a 66 to 80-percent less likely chance of being hospitalized from an omicron infection than of a delta infection.
This as the FDA authorizes a second oral, at-home antiviral pill to fight COVID-19 infections in high risk adults, the Merck pill. However, local health experts across the east are not satisfied with the preliminary findings and warn the public that the threat of COVID is still present, especially entering the holiday season. “Even though it’s not as likely to cause a severe illness, there’s still people who are still at a high-risk of getting severe illness from any COVID,” said Genelle Butz, CarolinaEast Pharmacy Director. Earlier this week, an unvaccinated man in his 50s in the Houston, Texas area became the first report of an omicron-related death in the United States. Less than one month after its first reported case, omicron has been detected in all 50 states. Now, sick patients have the option of two antiviral pills. One is produced by Pfizer with close to 90-percent efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death in high-risk patients. The second, authorized on Thursday, is produced by Merck and has a 30-percent efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death. "I think this drug looks very good, but I think some people see that as an alternative to the vaccine and that is absolutely not the case,” said Dr. Paul Cook with the Brody School of Medicine. This leaves Dr. Arin Piramzadian of StarMed Healthcare asking, “Why would you not get vaccinated, actually have up to 70, 80 percent protection, versus get sick, have possible long term side effects, and take a [Merck] treatment that can only protect you up to 30 percent.” Ahead of the Christmas holiday, 58-percent of eligible North Carolinians are fully vaccinated. Even though omicron may not be as deadly as other illnesses, the county has experienced similarly serious public health threats before. “Chicken pox can be deadly, but for most people it’s absolutely not deadly,” said Dr. Cook. “I think we should think of omicron in that way. This probably won’t kill people but missing work is going to be a big deal.” Dr. Butz says the highly transmissible variant will lead to more cases and, “more healthcare workers getting sick, more grocery store workers, postal, everybody, getting sick, and if you don’t have people able to work and support society, that will make everything a lot harder.” All three doctors are unanimous in their professional recommendation that the best protection against COVID-19 is vaccination.
MARTIN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 92 of North Carolina’s 100 counties have a high rate of community transmission of COVID-19.
In November, the map was trending positively, with much of the East shaded orange, signifying a substantial transmission rate, the level beneath “high.” Now, all counties in the state except for Polk, Halifax, Northampton, Hertford, Chowan, Hyde, Jones, and Carteret have high transmission. To be classified as an area with high COVID-19 transmission, the county has to have at least 100 new cases of the virus for every 100,000 people, or 10% or more positive tests within a seven-day period. The new shading is drawn from data from Dec. 7th to Dec. 13th for case rate and Dec. 4th to Dec. 10th for positive test percentage. While health officials are learning that the Omicron variant may be more contagious than Delta, state epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore says those Omicron surges have not yet arrived in North Carolina. “We’re still seeing a surge with infections caused by the Delta variant of COVID. That’s not just any particular county or even in the state. We’re really seeing that across the country, particularly in the northern states, but also here now.” North Carolina is at more than a 9% daily positivity rate with 63% of the population 12 years old and up fully vaccinated, according to the state health department. Although Delta is the dominant variant in North Carolina right now, state health officials do not anticipate that to remain. “It is my expectation that Omicron will start to take over,” Moore said. “I do expect that we are going to see more COVID over this winter.” However, Moore says there is a way to celebrate the holiday season while still staying safe from infection. “Life goes on. We’ve had just a really rough time and everyone needs to make those connections and be with the people that they love over the holidays. But there are ways to do that to keep you safe and keep them [safe].” With the holidays just over one week away, Moore urges vaccination as the best protection against infection. He also recommends getting a booster shot if you are eligible. “Make sure that you are using the masks, using the tests, that you’re doing what you can to limit the spread,” Moore said. The NCDHHS has released new guidance for gathering safely for the holidays this year.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has now been detected in over one-third of the United States.
Yet according to an announcement made by Pfizer, the company’s booster shot can effectively protect against the mutation. Dr. Rachel Roper, Brody School of Medicine viral pathogens expert, suggests that when thinking about COVID vaccines and mutant variants like Omicron, think explosions. “If you hit something with a bomb, and if you hit nearby, you’re still going to get a lot of destruction, but it’s not going to be perfect like a perfect hit,” Roper said. The vaccines in millions of arms across the country were not made to fight Omicron, but the shot’s “explosion” still provides some protection. Mutations are inevitable, explains Dr. Arin Piramzadian with StarMed Healthcare. “The part that is really unnatural is that there are so many people that are sick,” Piramzadian said. “And of course, when there are so many people that are sick, there is a higher chance of mutation occurring. It’s going to be more contagious or more deadly," hr continued. Many of those mutations are in areas where we can make neutralized antibodies to fight infection. Mutations have knocked those out, so Roper says we know there will be less protection. It’s an explanation for why breakthrough cases of Omicron infection in fully vaccinated individuals are popping up. “Any change in the virus will change how the vaccines and the treatments that were originally for a different string of it will work,” Piramzadian said. Pfizer’s preliminary findings of booster efficacy against Omicron suggest an increase in antibody protection of over 2,000%. “But it’s not going to be as good of protection as it was against the Delta variant,” Roper warns. The vaccine wasn’t made to target the changes that the Omicron variant possesses. Still, experts said that some protection is better than none. The reality of severe COVID infection is gruesome and painful. Roper recalls hearing someone say that if they were infected with COVID-19 and died, they would be okay with it. They thought that when their time is up, their time is up. However, she says, “they may not be thinking about that they could be in the hospital on a ventilator for two months while their family watches them die.” Because the sample pool of Omicron infection is so small, there is not enough information to make definitive conclusions about its infectious qualities and deadliness. About two weeks ago, Pfizer/BioNTech began working to create a vaccine specific to Omicron, in case it is needed. The company says the first batch of that variant-specific vaccine could be available within 100 days, pending approval. Pfizer’s announcement is the first to be released by a vaccine maker to support the urges of health officials across the country about getting vaccinated and getting boosted, if eligible. KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) - The Children’s Village Academy held a drive-up vaccination clinic on Saturday for people ages 5 and up in Kinston.
The clinic offered full doses of the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson, and pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine. No appointment was necessary. Douglas Dunn waited in line to register his kids for their first dose. “It took a little time but it’s worth it,” Dunn said. “The doctors know what they are talking about so, stick with the doctors and you’ll live longer.” After the Dunn siblings got their pediatric doses, the clinic was open for business. School nurse Deborah Johnson spent most of her time holding the hands of the kids getting their shots, but when there was a lull in the crowd, she rolled up her own sleeve for a booster. Johnson contacted the Lenoir County Health Department to organize the drive. Vaccines were administered by Charlotte-based StarMed Healthcare. “I just think its important for our kids to get vaccinated,” Johnson said. “This is not going to guarantee that they are not going to get sick but it will probably make their symptoms much lighter and not get as sick and not end up in the hospital.” With the holidays approaching, Johnson said the clinic could not have come at a better time for students. “Hopefully, there will be a lot of kids vaccinated as well as adults getting their boosters, especially before the holidays because it does take two weeks for it to kick in,” Johnson said. “I hope it will protect our kids during the holiday season and they can enjoy their family time.” Matilda Burks said she is happy to be vaccinated, bringing her one step closer to a visit with her aunt in New York. “You should get your vaccine so you can stay alive,” Burks said. She joins the over 120,000 kids between 5 and 11-years old to have received at least one vaccine dose in the state
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - As cases of the Omicron variant are continuing to be confirmed in the U.S., President Biden issued new guidelines for travel that will affect plans in the coming weeks.
Mask mandates in transportation centers have gotten an extension from the White House into March 2022, but for Pitt-Greenville Airport leaders, keeping people safe amid holiday COVID surges is really business as usual. “Since almost the start, we’ve had heightened awareness so really, nothing’s changed,” Bill Hopper, Pitt-Greenville Airport director said. One week after Thanksgiving, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 3,780 new cases of COVID-19. That figure had not reached that height since early October. Increased case numbers and the introduction of the Omicron variant to the U.S. have many wondering if they should cancel their plans. Top state health official Dr. Mandy Cohen says there are precautions people can take. “Travel can be made safe if you do a few things to keep yourselves and others safe.” he first thing Cohen said families can do to stay ahead of the spread is to get vaccinated if they have not yet done so. Secondly, she urges all adults to get a booster shot when they are eligible. Cohen says after that, masking and testing are on their side. “Make sure that you are doing those layers of protection,” Cohen said. If you are planning to stay in Eastern Carolina for the holidays, local event planners have taken extra steps to make sure you can still celebrate while staying safe. “At Greenville Gives, they’ve got a much bigger footprint than they would normally have to be able to space people out,” Andrew Schmidt, Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director said. “Same thing with our Christmas parade tomorrow. The route is a little bit longer than it normally would be. Again, that idea is to social distance and space people out.” Whether staying home, driving, or flying, local leaders all agree that getting ahead of things is the best way to stay safe. “Prevention is the key,” Hopper said. “We’ve been very good at it and will continue to be good at it. We’re very fortunate and I think that is just a reflection of the people here in Eastern North Carolina.”
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to discuss the expansion of booster shot eligibility to all adults over 18 years old on Friday.
This means another advancement in the distribution of COVID-19 booster shots could be made this weekend. Nearly 78% of the nation’s population could be eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. With the expansion, comes new concerns for those who could soon be eligible for the additional jab. Some have already made up their minds, like Rachel Hayes of Greenville, who said, “I’ll be getting mine as soon as I can.” Others aren’t so sure. “I won’t get one for a while. I still have plenty of antibodies,” Jess Martin, also of Greenville, said. Jenny Whitley, of Kinston, said, “I am fully vaccinated, but I do not think that I will take the booster because I’m trusted that the first two shots worked.” Dr. Paul Cook, an infectious disease expert with the Brody School of Medicine, weighed in on some of the common concerns among Eastern Carolina residents. “What we have to detect immunity now is antibodies. What we clearly know is that antibodies are not the full story and are, in fact, somewhat misleading. There is what we call the cellular immune system which is much more difficult to measure, but it can be done. And it appears that the cellular immunity is probably adequate after two doses. There is a benefit with the third dose, but it’s not a big change.” The boosters act differently for those who are currently eligible to receive them. “Clearly the boosters are beneficial to persons who are older, and compromised with immune conditions,” As for otherwise healthy adults, Cook said, “There is some data that suggests that the immunity drops off a little bit-- not completely-- but a little bit over time.“ As part of Pfizer’s case for expanded eligibility, it submitted early results of a booster study in 10,000 people which found that a booster could restore protection against symptomatic infection up to about 95 percent. “There is some basis for recommending booster shots after six months,” Cook said. “So, is this going to be a game-changer? I’m not so sure, but I think it’s not a bad idea.” Side effects are a concern for those considering a booster shot. Because in his position he deals with COVID-positive patients daily, Cook received his additional dose. He uses his experience and research to address the concern about side effects. “What we see in the literature and what I’ve experienced anecdotally suggests that if you had a side effect, usually a sore arm, or maybe a low-grade fever or flu-like symptoms after usually the second dose, you might expect to see that after a booster. But I haven’t heard or seen that the side effects are worse with the third dose.” The CDC has authorized the mixing of booster brands. If someone has a preference based on the side effects and still wants an additional dose, they can decide which vaccine to choose.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Late Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Pfizer’s lower-dosage COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11.
Dr. Erin Wooten, a pediatrician at Children’s Health Services in Greenville, has already made the arrangements for her sons, ages 8 and 11, to be vaccinated. “That goes a long way if you know that your own people that you trust or your own pediatrician is getting their own children vaccinated. That makes you feel a little bit better as a parent,” Wooten says. Wooten has a unique perspective as a mother, but also as an expert in pediatrics. “I wouldn’t ask parents to do anything that I wouldn’t be willing to have my own kids do. And I definitely think the benefit outweighs the risk.” Dr. Erin Wooten, Children’s Health Services pediatricianMany parents hear that phrase and wonder what it means for a vaccine’s benefits to outweigh its risks. What risks are there with Pfizer’s vaccine? Wooten explains that all vaccines and medications come with medical risks. These can include anything from side effects to severe allergic reactions. “Looking at all of the data that’s been out there, the benefit of preventing COVID outweighs any risk from that vaccine,” Wooten says. “And luckily, there’s been really few risks. We get almost more side effects from the other childhood vaccines than from the COVID vaccine in this age group.” The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is also eager to roll out the shots to young children. State health director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson says that this time around, supply will not be an issue for providers. “It will be in all 100 North Carolina counties,” Tilson tells WITN. “All local health departments will be getting the vaccine.” Tilson anticipates that the first week’s supply of doses will be enough to vaccinate 50 percent of the state’s residents aged 5-11. One-quarter of the requested doses will be delivered to primary care practices. Tilson says these are often the most trusted medical professionals for families in the state. “By the end of the week... should have the vaccine in about 800 different sites across the state.” Per the CDC’s recommendation, Wooten says she is choosing to vaccinate her eligible sons for their overall health and well-being, but also because it takes them a step closer to normalcy. “I know, according to the CDC, if my kids are vaccinated and they get exposed, they don’t necessarily have to stay out of school; they don’t have to quarantine,” Wooten says. “They can get back into more normal activities.” As families across Eastern Carolina prepare their holiday travel plans, many of which include visiting high-risk individuals like grandparents or elderly friends, vaccinated children will be better protected from passing or receiving COVID-19. “So, now having my boys vaccinated, it’s just kind of a relief that I’m doing everything I can,” Wooten says. The kid-sized dose of Pfizer’s vaccine is one-third of the dosage for adults and teens. Children will get two shots, each three weeks apart. The shot was tested through a clinical trial of more than 3,000 children ages five to 11 of varying ethnicities. The clinical trials showed over 90 percent efficacy in preventing symptomatic infection of COVID-19. With no severe side effects or safety concerns reported, the vaccine has been deemed safe and effective. Parents can make appointments for their children to receive doses at no cost to the family. |
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