Blog Archives

National Forest in North Carolina to fill two positions in WNC

1/13/2022

National Forests in North Carolina, in collaboration with AmeriCorps, is excited to announce that it is hiring for two full-time temporary VISTA positions for the Appalachian and Cheoah-Tusquitee Ranger Districts.

With support of the United States Forest Service Southern Region Volunteers & Service Programs, VISTAs will further partnership and resource development opportunities. Additionally, VISTAs will assist with the recruitment and management of volunteers and service participants as well as support integrative projects for different program areas (recreation, biology, fire, archeology, etc.) in their assigned national forests. VISTAs engage the community they serve to generate interest and commitment to impact-driven activities. These positions stand to benefit local communities by increasing sustainable recreation, workforce developments and resource development.

Current AmeriCorps VISTA member Lindsey Nelson says, “This position has given me the tools and experience needed to move forward with my career while providing opportunities to engage in hands-on work at some of the most beautiful sites in western North Carolina."

Successful applicants will receive a non-compete hiring authority for Forest Service positions, a benefit which expedites the hiring process by allowing qualified candidates to be placed into positions following the completion of their service. In addition to the direct hiring authority, VISTAs will receive a living allowance, training, professional development funds, a relocation allowance, health care benefits and childcare assistance for those who are eligible. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in joining the Forest Service or working in natural resource management.

Interested applicants can apply online for the Appalachian and Cheoah-Tusquitee positions. The priority application deadline is February 11, 2022. The positions will begin April 11, 2022. VISTAs will have the option to serve one to two years. Applicants must be 18 years or older. For more information, please contact Patricia Silva at 304-860-0371 or psilva@conservationlegacy.org.

Current AmeriCorps VISTA, Lindsey Nelson, holding a native phenotype grass plug at a planting event organized by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy on Max Patch Bald. The event was attended by Carolina Mountain Club and Appalachian Trail Conservancy volunteers as well as local community members.

NCDHHS Updates COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster/Additional Dose Data

1/13/2022

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today updated the COVID-19 vaccination dashboard to better show how many people in North Carolina are up to date with current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations.

NCDHHS has added state-level and county metrics on people who are vaccinated with at least one booster/additional dose. The "Fully Vaccinated" metric is now "Vaccinated with Two Doses or One Dose J&J."

The dashboard shows the percent of people who have: received at least one or two doses of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series (Pfizer and Moderna); one dose of a one-dose series (Johnson & Johnson); and, now, vaccinated individuals who have received at least one booster/additional dose.

The booster/additional dose data will be shown by population (5+, 12+, 18+ and 65+) to reflect the percent of the vaccinated population who is eligible and has received at least one additional/booster dose. The county map on the "Summary Data" tab now allows users to view county-level data on total booster/additional doses administered.

These additional data will help NCDHHS provide better transparency for vaccinations and additional and booster doses administered across the state.

North Carolinians can go to MySpot.nc.gov to find a vaccine location near them. 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.–4:30 p.m. on weekends.

Wait Time for Moderna COVID-19 Booster Shortened to Five Months

1/8/2022

The FDA now authorizes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends individuals who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine get a booster dose after five months. This announcement from federal agencies comes just three days after the announcement of a shortened wait time for a booster from six months to five months for individuals who received the Pfizer vaccine.

Current recommendation for COVID-19 boosters is:

Those who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine should get a booster five months after their last dose.
Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster two months after their initial dose.

Anyone ages 12 and older should receive a booster. The CDC also recommends a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 who have compromised immune systems.

Adults may receive any brand of the COVID-19 vaccine for their booster, while children 12 to 17 can only receive Pfizer. NCDHHS encourages individuals to speak with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist if they have questions about what booster is right for them.

Boosters are available anywhere COVID-19 vaccines are available. People do not need a doctor's note to get a booster shot. Individuals who want to receive a booster will need to know the dates of any past COVID-19 vaccinations as well as the vaccine brand they originally received. Paper vaccination cards are helpful but may not be necessary. At-home vaccination and free transportation may be available.

More information about COVID-19 vaccine boosters is available on NCDHHS’s website.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines in North Carolina or to find a vaccine location, visit MySpot.nc.gov or call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center for free at 888-675-4567.

El tiempo de espera para recibir la dosis de refuerzo de
Moderna contra el COVID-19 fue reducido a cinco meses

La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA) ha autorizado y los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) ahora recomiendan que las personas que recibieron la vacuna de Moderna contra el COVID-19 reciban una dosis de refuerzo después de cinco meses. Este anuncio por parte de las agencias federales se produce solo tres días después del anuncio de la reducción del tiempo de espera para recibir una dosis de refuerzo de seis meses a cinco meses para las personas que recibieron la vacuna de Pfizer.

Las recomendaciones actuales para recibir las dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19 son:

Las personas que recibieron la vacuna de Moderna o Pfizer deben recibir una dosis de refuerzo cinco meses después de su última dosis.
Las personas que recibieron la vacuna de Johnson & Johnson deben recibir una dosis de refuerzo dos meses después de su dosis inicial.

Cualquier persona de 12 años o más debe recibir una dosis de refuerzo. Los CDC también recomiendan una tercera dosis de la vacuna de Pfizer para niños de 5 a 11 años que tienen un sistema inmunológico comprometido.

Los adultos pueden recibir cualquier marca de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 para su dosis de refuerzo, mientras que los niños de 12 a 17 años solamente pueden recibir la de Pfizer. El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS) motiva a las personas a hablar con un médico/a, enfermero/a o farmacéutico/a si tienen preguntas sobre qué dosis de refuerzo es adecuada para ellos.

Las dosis de refuerzo están disponibles en cualquier lugar donde haya vacunas contra el COVID-19. Las personas no necesitan una nota del médico para recibir una dosis de refuerzo. Las personas que desean recibir una dosis de refuerzo deberán saber las fechas de su vacunación y la marca de las vacunas que recibieron anteriormente. Las tarjetas de vacunación son útiles, pero pueden no ser necesarias para recibir una dosis de refuerzo. Es posible que haya disponible vacunación en casa (a domicilio) y transporte gratuito.

Más información sobre las dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19 está disponible en el sitio web de NCDHHS.

Para obtener más información sobre las vacunas contra el COVID-19 en Carolina del Norte o para encontrar un centro de vacunación, visita Vacunate.nc.gov o llama gratis al Centro de Ayuda para la Vacunación contra el COVID-19 del estado al 888-675-4567.

NCDHHS School Guidance EncouragesVaccines and Masking to Keep Students in the Classroom; Provides New Test-to-Stay Option

1/7/2022

With COVID-19 cases reaching pandemic highs, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services urges K-12 schools to promote vaccination and boosters for students and staff and require students and staff wear masks indoors to keep students in the classroom and limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

"Research and lived experience in this pandemic have shown it is essential we do everything we can to safely keep our students in the classroom," said NCDHHS Chief Deputy Secretary Susan Gale Perry. "In-person learning is more than academics, it’s also children interacting with their peers, getting healthy meals and accessing critical support services."

Requiring masks in schools reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published an updated review of scientific data that continues to show the benefits of mask wearing in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The updated review included a study of the effectiveness of masking in 70 K-12 schools during the 2020-21 school year, which showed secondary transmission rates were significantly lower for interactions between individuals wearing masks.

Excluding a student or staff member from school following a COVID-19 exposure should be a last resort. NCDHHS has provided several tools to support schools in achieving this goal. A K-12 student or staff member who has been in close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 — and has not themselves developed symptoms or tested positive — can still attend school if:

The person exposed has had their COVID-19 vaccinations. For adults, this includes boosters.
The person exposed has had a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
The person exposed and the person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 were both properly wearing masks when the exposure occurred.

NCDHHS is adding another tool to help keep students in the classroom. Recent data released by the ABC Science Collaborative showed that Test-to-Stay can be an effective strategy for further reducing absences and lowering the risk of further transmission of COVID-19 in schools where masks are required. NCDHHS has incorporated these findings into the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.

With the addition of a Test-to-Stay option, the list of scenarios for remaining in the classroom is expanded to include to unmasked exposures (e.g., when students are eating lunch). This Test-to-Stay option only applies to K-12 school settings that require masks, which data has shown limits the risk of transmission. As part of Test-to-Stay, the person who was exposed to COVID-19 should:

Get tested the day they are notified of an exposure.
Get tested again five days after the exposure (or as close to five days as possible).
Wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
Except for attending school, stay home and avoid others.

"Protecting our students and staff requires layers of protection to stop the spread of COVID-19," said State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D. "In addition to vaccines and masks, Test-to-Stay is another proven tool that can help minimize the spread of COVID-19 while also maximizing time in the classroom."

School districts, charter schools and private schools can request testing kits and other testing support from NCDHHS as part of the StrongSchoolsNC K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program. Additionally, public schools can request funding to hire additional school nursing support staff for school testing and other school-based health services.

Students, staff and families are reminded to take precautions to protect themselves and their communities by getting vaccinated (and boosted as soon as eligible), wearing a well-fitting mask and getting tested for COVID-19 if they believe they may have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms.

Find out how to book an appointment in advance for your vaccine or booster shot at MySpot.nc.gov (English) or vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish).

North Carolinians Encouraged toApply Online for Help with Energy Costs

1/6/2022

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging eligible North Carolinians to see if they are eligible for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program or the Crisis Intervention Program if they need assistance with heating bills.

Households can apply online through the ePASS portal at epass.nc.gov or by submitting a paper application through mail, fax or dropping it off at their local Department of Social Services, without having to go into the agency to apply. Individuals may also contact their local DSS by phone to apply.

“We know many of our neighbors are still dealing with economic hardships due to the impacts of COVID-19, but assistance for heating bills is available to help keep people and families safe and warm as the weather gets colder,” said NCDHHS Senior Director for Economic Security Carla West.

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program is a seasonal program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills. LIEAP applications for this winter have been on-going since Dec. 1, 2021 for certain, eligible populations. Applications for all other eligible households began Jan. 3, 2022 and will be accepted until March 31, 2022 or until funds are exhausted. To be eligible for the LIEAP program, a household must:

Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria
Have income equal to or less than 130% of the federal poverty limit
Have resources, such as saving and checking accounts and cash on hand, at or below $2,250 (resources will not be counted for 2021-2022 LIEAP season)
Be responsible for their heating cost

The Crisis Intervention Program is a year-round program that assists individuals and families who are experiencing a heating or cooling related crisis. A household is considered in crisis if it is currently experiencing or is in danger of experiencing a life threatening or health related emergency and assistance is not available from another source. CIP applications will be accepted now until June 30, 2022 or until funds are exhausted. To be eligible for CIP, a household must:

Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria
Have income equal to or less than 150% of the federal poverty limit
Have an energy related crisis
Have a utility statement that shows how much is owed to alleviate the crisis

For more information on these energy programs and specific eligibility, visit the LIEAP and CIP websites at:

NCDHHS strongly encourages families to take advantage of the new ways to apply for energy programs to help maintain social distancing and help slow the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Boosters Recommended for ChildrenAges 12 to 15, Additional Dose Recommended for Immunocompromised Children Ages 5 to 11

1/6/2022

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday announced it recommends the Pfizer COVID-19 booster for children ages 12 to 15 to further protect them from COVID-19. The CDC also recommends a third dose of Pfizer for children ages 5 to 11 who have compromised immune systems. In addition, the wait time for boosters for anyone who received Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations has been reduced from six months to five months. People who received two doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine should receive their booster in six months. People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive their booster two months after their vaccination.

"The new recommendations by the CDC reinforce the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters — and the urgency of getting vaccinated and boosted to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death," said Kody H. Kinsley, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

These booster recommendations come during a surge in COVID-19 infections caused by the highly contagious Omicron variant and as early research shows booster doses increase a person’s ability to fight the new variant.

COVID-19 infections have skyrocketed to a seven-day daily average of more than 480,000 cases per day in the United States, and the number of children being hospitalized across the country is increasing. COVID-19 cases among children in the U.S. have reached their highest ever reported since the start of the pandemic — more than 325,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported nationally in the final week of December. North Carolina is experiencing a similar surge in COVID-19 infections. Hospitalizations are rising nationally and in North Carolina, with intensive care units in the state at 85% of capacity.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are effective in reducing the severity of illness among those who become infected. People who are unvaccinated run the highest risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalization and death. Currently, 87% of the patients in the ICU are unvaccinated.

The CDC also updated its guidance for isolation and quarantine. People with COVID-19 should isolate for at least five full days and wear a mask for an additional five days. People exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine for five days and wear a mask for an additional five days. However, people who are exposed to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine if they are vaccinated — including a booster for adults — against COVID-19. Because North Carolina remains in the CDC’s red zone with high community transmission, all North Carolinians should wear a mask.

Prevention is the best treatment to protect against COVID-19. Get vaccinated, get boosted.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are widely available across North Carolina. Go to MySpot.nc.gov to find a vaccine location near you.

Se recomiendan las dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19
para niños de 12 a 15 años, y una dosis adicional para niños
de 5 a 11 años con un sistema inmunológico comprometido

Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades anunciaron ayer que recomiendan la dosis de refuerzo de Pfizer contra el COVID-19 para niños de 12 a 15 años para protegerlos aún más contra el COVID-19. Los CDC también recomiendan una tercera dosis de refuerzo de Pfizer para niños de 5 a 11 años que tienen un sistema inmunológico comprometido. Además, el tiempo de espera para la dosis de refuerzo para cualquier persona que haya recibido dos dosis de la vacuna de Pfizer se ha reducido de seis meses a cinco meses. Las personas que recibieron dos dosis de la vacuna de Moderna deben recibir su dosis de refuerzo seis meses después. Las personas que recibieron la vacuna de Johnson & Johnson deben recibir su dosis de refuerzo dos meses después de su vacunación.

"Las nuevas recomendaciones de los CDC refuerzan la seguridad y la eficacia de las vacunas y las dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19, y la urgencia de vacunarse y recibir una dosis de refuerzo para prevenir la enfermedad grave, hospitalización y muerte", dijo Kody H. Kinsley, secretario del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés).

Estas recomendaciones de dosis de refuerzo se producen durante un aumento repentino de las infecciones por COVID-19 causadas por la variante altamente contagiosa Ómicron, ya que las primeras investigaciones muestran que las dosis de refuerzo aumentan la capacidad de una persona para combatir la nueva variante.

Las infecciones por COVID-19 se han incrementado a un promedio diario de siete días de más de 480,000 casos por día en los Estados Unidos, y la cantidad de niños hospitalizados en todo el país está aumentando. Los casos de COVID-19 en los niños de los Estados Unidos han alcanzado su nivel más alto desde el comienzo de la pandemia: se informaron más de 325,000 casos de COVID-19 en niños a nivel nacional en la última semana de diciembre. Carolina del Norte está experimentando un aumento similar en las infecciones por COVID-19. Las hospitalizaciones están aumentando a nivel nacional y estatal en Carolina del Norte; las unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) en el estado están al 85% de su capacidad.

Las vacunas y las dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19 son efectivas para reducir la gravedad de la enfermedad en quienes se infectan. Las personas que no están vacunadas corren un mayor riesgo de infección, enfermedad grave, hospitalización y muerte. Actualmente, el 87% de los pacientes en UCI no están vacunados.

Los CDC también actualizaron su guía para el aislamiento y la cuarentena. Las personas con COVID-19 deben aislarse durante al menos 5 días completos y usar una mascarilla durante 5 días más. Las personas expuestas al COVID-19 deben ponerse en cuarentena durante 5 días y usar una mascarilla durante 5 días más. Sin embargo, las personas que están expuestas al COVID-19 no necesitan ponerse en cuarentena si están vacunadas, incluido una dosis de refuerzo para los adultos, contra el COVID-19. Debido a que Carolina del Norte permanece en la zona roja de los CDC con alta transmisión comunitaria del virus, todos los habitantes de Carolina del Norte deben usar una mascarilla.

La prevención es el mejor tratamiento para protegerse contra el COVID-19. Vacúnate y recibe una dosis de refuerzo.

Las vacunas y las dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19 están ampliamente disponibles en Carolina del Norte. Visita Vacunate.nc.gov para encontrar un centro de vacunación cerca de ti.