Press Releases

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 The standing orders will be rescinded on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to give North Carolina pharmacies time to adopt protocols that align with the approved recommendations.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 — As the federal government shutdown stretches into its second week, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is actively working with local, state and federal partners to understand and navigate the evolving impacts on essential services. Despite the uncertainty, North Carolinians who rely on federal food assistance programs will continue receiving benefits through October.

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 — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced Standing Orders issued by State Health Director Dr. Larry Greenblatt to allow pharmacists at retail locations to test and treat for influenza. Beginning on Oct. 1, 2025, pharmacists across the state will be able to test for the influenza virus and then immediately treat with the appropriate medications to reduce severity of illness when appropriate as authorized under House Bill 67.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released the state’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan for 2026–2030. The five-year plan outlines a coordinated, evidence-based approach and promising practices to reduce suicide deaths and self-harm injuries statewide.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the introduction of three new Citizen Review Panels to evaluate child welfare services and make system improvement recommendations aimed at strengthening the safety and well-being of children and families across the state. Applications to serve on a Citizen Review Panel are open now at the NCDHHS Citizen Review Panels website and will remain open until October 25, 2025.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help prevent the spread of rabies. Starting mid-October, Wildlife Services will be distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in western North Carolina.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a special webinar celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on Wednesday Oct. 1, 2025. The session will explore the powerful connection between culture, identity, and mental health within Hispanic and Latino communities.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, how Medicaid expansion supports the health of communities across the state, ways to apply for health coverage and what to know about upcoming federal changes to the program.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking job applicants to work at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC) and will host a hiring event on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the center in Morganton. JIRDC is a state-operated developmental center dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

READOUT — North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai traveled to western North Carolina this week to participate in a Day of Service in coordination with Governor Stein and other Cabinet leaders to show their commitment to Hurricane Helene recovery one year after the storm. The Secretary also met with Buncombe County Health and Human Services and Lincoln County Department of Social Services to learn more about the successes and challenges they face at the county level.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the “Stronger Together Conference” on Sept. 20, 2025, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The conference is an interactive experience centered on cultural connection, creative expression and community care. It is designed to offer culturally competent and trauma-informed resources to support wellness for Black youth and young adults.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the "Responding to the Opioid and Substance Use Crisis in North Carolina’s Rural Coastal Communities" conference on September 19, 2025, in Morehead City. Kelly Crosbie, Director of the Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Use Services at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, will deliver the keynote address on how opioid use impacts rural coastal communities.

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.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Caregiving Workforce Strategic Leadership Council reconvened Thursday, Sept. 11, to celebrate achievements and reaffirm its commitment to strengthen the state’s caregiving workforce, specifically in the fields of nursing, direct care, and mental health and substance use.

PRESS RELEASE — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is celebrating national 988 Day and commemorating the second anniversary of American Sign Language (ASL) service being available through the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend a ceremony on Sept. 8, 2025, commemorating 988 Day and the second anniversary of ASL being offered through the nationwide 988 service. The event will be held at the REAL Crisis Center in Greenville, which is the state center for answering calls to the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of California, San Francisco recently launched the Juul Labs Document Repository, a public archive of nearly 5 million internal company records. This project, funded by North Carolina’s settlement with Juul Labs, offers an inside look at the marketing, product development and business strategies that fueled the youth vaping epidemic.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media and members of the public are invited to attend Ignite Your Future: A Project Spark Event, hosted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Project Spark was created by NCDHHS to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) explore, prepare for and keep a job in their community and is paid for by the U.S. Department of Education. Project Spark also helps people with I/DD transition from subminimum wage jobs to competitive, integrated employment alongside their peers.

PRESS RELEASE — Today at Cherry Hospital, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrated the launch of an electronic health record powered by Epic for North Carolina’s 13 state-operated healthcare facilities. These facilities provide critical medical and behavioral treatment of adults and children with mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and neuro-medical conditions. This advancement in patient care will allow for improved and more comprehensive care, streamlined processes for staff, enhanced security for protection of patient data, and improved regulatory compliance.