Press Releases

Severe Weather Causes Delay in COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has been notified by the federal government of continued delays in some shipments and deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine this week due to severe weather. Both first and second dose shipments have been impacted. The Department is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and vaccine providers to help minimize the potential effects of these delays.

NCDHHS to Continue to Provide Extra Help Buying Food for Approximately 860,000 Children Through P-EBT

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with NC Department of Public Instruction today announced it will begin issuing additional benefits on Feb. 19, 2021 through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. These benefits will be received over several days starting Friday for those who already have an EBT card for Food and Nutrition Services or P-EBT benefits.

NCDHHS Adds New Resources and Tools to Spanish Language COVID-19 Vaccination Website

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has added new resources to its Spanish language COVID-19 vaccination website, Protégete a ti y a los demás. !VACÚNATE!, including a new video on COVID-19 vaccines and tools for understanding vaccination groups and finding locations to get vaccinated.

NCCU ACCORD Research on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Informs North Carolina’s Strategy for Equitable Outreach and Distribution

As part of its partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to research public attitudes toward COVID-19, the North Carolina Central University Advanced Center for COVID-19 Related Disparities' (ACCORD) new research study shows communication about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 coupled with local access to COVID-19 vaccination can significantly reduce vaccine hesitancy among historically marginalized people.

Food and Nutrition Services Participants Can Now Use Benefits for Online Purchases From Food Lion Through Instacart

Starting today, North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) participants can purchase groceries online using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards through Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile app, providing access to an additional authorized online EBT retailer, Food Lion. This flexibility will allow participants to buy food while promoting social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will help families with transportation and mobility barriers.

NCDHHS Reports First Identified Case of B.1.351 COVID-19 Variant in NC

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today reported the first identification of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 in a North Carolina resident. The B.1.351 variant was first detected in South Africa in October and in the United States in January.  

More than 10,000 North Carolinians Have Died of COVID-19

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today reported that North Carolina has reached a sobering milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic — more than 10,000 North Carolinians have died from the virus. The state also surpassed 800,000 total cases today.

County Demographic Data for Vaccines Administered Now Available on North Carolina Vaccine Data Dashboard

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has added new county demographic data for COVID-19 vaccinations to the vaccine data dashboard. Data on people who have received the first dose or both the first and second dose of the vaccine are available by race, ethnicity, gender and age group and can be filtered by county.

North Carolina Sees Dramatic Drop in Spread of Flu, Other Respiratory Illnesses Thanks to Preventative Practices to Slow Spread of COVID-19

North Carolinians have protected themselves and their loved ones from the flu along with COVID-19 by taking preventative measures such as wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from people who do not live with them, and frequently washing their hands or using hand sanitizer.

New Tools Help North Carolinians Get Vaccine Information

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released new tools to help North Carolinians get their COVID-19 vaccine questions answered and to find vaccine locations in the state.

North Carolina Administers More Than 1 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

North Carolina surpassed the 1 million mark of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across the state last Friday. This milestone capped a week when the state's vaccine providers administered more than 99% of first doses.

NCDHHS Continues COVID-19 Support Services, Community Health Worker Programs into 2021

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will continue two programs that help North Carolinians access services such as relief payments, access to primary medical care, diagnostic testing, food and additional supports during the pandemic.

NCDHHS Adds New Data to Vaccine Dashboard

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has expanded its vaccine data dashboard to provide information about vaccine doses promised to and received by the state. Users also will be able to see the percent of doses received that have been administered.

NCDHHS Releases COVID-19 Community Readiness Toolkit to Help Manage Mental Health Needs During Pandemic

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released the COVID-19 Community Readiness toolkit to help individuals find mental and behavioral health supports and resources in their communities.

NCDHHS Launches “Find My Vaccine Group” to Help North Carolinians Know When They Have a Spot to Take Their Shot

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched a new online tool to help North Carolinians know when they will be eligible to get their vaccine. Find My Vaccine Group walks users through a series of questions to determine which vaccine group they are in. People can then sign up to be notified when their group can get vaccinated.

NCDHHS Reports First Identified Case of B.1.1.7 COVID-19 Variant in NC

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first identification in a North Carolina resident of the COVID-19 variant called B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom in December.

NCDOT and NCDHHS Announce Solution to Help Fund Transit Rides to and from COVID-19 Vaccine Sites

Today, the NC Department of Transportation and the NC Department of Health and Human Services announced that approximately $2.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funding is being distributed to local transit agencies across the state to help pay for rides for individuals who need transportation assistance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

NCDHHS Partnering with Health Systems on Large-Scale Vaccine Events

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with health systems, local health departments and community health centers across the state to host large community vaccine events for people currently eligible to be vaccinated. More than 45,000 vaccines are expected to be given through these events.

Health Care Workers and Adults 65 and Older Are Next to Receive Vaccine

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today that vaccine providers that are ready to expand may vaccinate all health care workers and anyone 65 years and older.

North Carolina Council on Health Care Coverage Meets to Develop Guiding Principles

Governor Roy Cooper will join members of The North Carolina Council on Health Care Coverage for its third meeting today as the Council discusses options and guiding principles to expand access to health care coverage for North Carolinians.