Topics Related to Public Health

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released A Statewide Call to Action to Reduce Cancer in North Carolina: 2025-2030 North Carolina Cancer Plan to address the complex factors and impacts of cancer that affect North Carolinians. It emphasizes reducing disparities among underserved and rural communities that experience higher rates of cancer, disability and death.

PRESS RELEASE — To recognize and raise awareness of safe antibiotic use, Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed the week of November 18-24, 2025, as North Carolina Antibiotic Awareness Week. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is calling attention to the importance of correct use of antibiotics, and the threat antibiotic resistance poses to people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

PRESS RELEASE — This week, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is celebrating 20 years of QuitlineNC – the state’s free, confidential quit-tobacco service that has helped tens of thousands of North Carolinians quit tobacco for good. Since its launch in 2005 as a telephone helpline, QuitlineNC has expanded to offer support by phone, text, and online video coaching, along with free nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and gum for eligible participants.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss ways to defend your family from respiratory illness; who should get updated flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines; and how to find testing and treatment.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first reported flu-related death of the 2025-2026 flu season. An adult in the western part of the state died due to complications of flu during the first week of October. To protect the privacy of the family, no additional information will be released.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will rescind the State Health Director’s standing orders that allowed people to receive COVID-19 vaccines in pharmacies following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval of updated recommendations that allow for vaccination without a prescription. The standing orders will be rescinded on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to give North Carolina pharmacies time to adopt protocols that align with the approved recommendations.

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Josh Stein and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai got their annual flu shots today at Walgreens in Raleigh, North Carolina and encourage North Carolinians to get vaccinated against seasonal viruses to best protect themselves from serious illness and hospitalization. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are available at a variety of locations including pharmacies, where many North Carolinians choose to receive their vaccines. October is a great time to get vaccinated to have the strongest protection during peak respiratory virus season through winter.

PRESS RELEASE — Update: As of Nov. 13, 2025, the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program bait distribution over western North Carolina has been postponed to spring 2026. NCDHHS will provide updates as they become available in the coming months. 

September is National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is a group of conditions that affect hemoglobin, which allows red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Red blood cells that contain sickle hemoglobin are inflexible and can stick to blood vessel walls, causing a blockage that slows or stops blood flow.

MEDIA ADVISORY — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services invite members of the media to attend a virtual press conference at 3:15 p.m. today, Sept. 12, to discuss access to COVID-19 vaccines.