Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services kicks off the Know Before You Go campaign today, a statewide initiative reminding North Carolinians to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in time for the start of the 2022-2023 school year, fall festivities, large gatherings and end-of-year celebrations and holidays.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a report of the state’s monkeypox data, including how many vaccines have been administered across the state since July. This data shows that while 70% of cases are in Black men, Black North Carolinians have received less than a quarter of the vaccinations so far.

Some North Carolinians can now have free COVID-19 tests shipped directly to them, thanks to the expansion of a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Rockefeller Foundation through Project ACT.

As children across North Carolina head back to school this month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reminds families that vaccinations are an important part of back-to-school success and overall health and well-being.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has begun issuing Pandemic-EBT benefits for summer 2022. Between July 20 and 30, the families of approximately 948,000 children in the state will each receive a one-time payment of $391 to purchase healthy meals during summer break.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Humans Services has expanded the list of higher-risk people who are eligible to receive the monkeypox vaccine to help prevent spread in the state.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley and State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., MPH, today spoke with North Carolina’s county and local health directors. They spoke on the current states of both COVID-19 and monkeypox. Secretary Kinsley and Dr. Tilson both talked about testing availability, expanding vaccination and treatment as health departments and NCDHHS continue to work to manage both diseases.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine can be used as an additional vaccine option for adults ages 18 years and older.

Starting Saturday, people in mental health crisis can dial 9-8-8 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and get immediately connected to trained crisis counselors 24/7. The new three-digit number provides a faster, easier way to get the help already available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Summarizing months of preparation and response efforts, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is releasing a 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak Response Plan to provide a quick and easily accessible summary of the information and tools North Carolinians need.