As recommended by the CDC and FDA, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday, Apr. 13, it would pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The announcement came after six women reported adverse reactions, including blood clots, which led to one death and another in critical care.
Through the 10-day pause of the Janssen vaccine, nine more blood clots were detected. Yet, the results count for 15 cases per 15 million doses administered, making these side effects a 1-in-1-million-chance occurrence. Thus, the two federal agencies approved resuming the one-shot vaccine on Friday, Apr. 23, and released a joint statement ensuring:
- Confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
- Available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.
- Available data suggest that the chance of this type of rare blood clot occurring is very low, but the FDA and CDC will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk.
- The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 fact sheet for recipients has been updated to include information about the risk of this syndrome.
As such, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has announced it will resume the vaccination as well. Public health’s Covid-19 dashboard shows North Carolina has given more than 250,000 J&J shots out of more than 6.7 million vaccines administered across the state.
In North Carolina, 37.3% of the population is fully vaccinated. Gov. Cooper announced last week he would like to see two-thirds of the population receive at least one shot by June 1 to lift remaining Covid-19 restrictions across the state (though, he will likely keep the mask mandate for indoor public gatherings).
To date in NC, there have been more than 950,000 Covid-19 cases across the state since the pandemic began. As of Friday, Apr. 23, there were 1,145 hospitalizations, 12,523 deaths, and 2,167 newly reported cases. The state’s percent positivity is around 5.1%, still hovering at health officials’ goal of 5%.
Let’s take a look at Covid-19 data, including cases, clusters and outbreaks, and vaccinations, across the tri-county region and at New Hanover Regional Medical Center as well.
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New Hanover County
CASES
New Hanover is reporting 18,795 cases — up by 398 since last week. Public health reported 17,486 have recovered. There are over 1,100 active cases in the county.
The death toll rose by one to 164.
CDC is reporting New Hanover’s positivity rate has decreased from 7.95% to 5.75%, closer to health officials’ goal of 5%.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated Apr. 23, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) shows a cluster at Myrtle Grove Christian School, with seven total cases, one staff member and six children.
It also is showing six student cases at John T. Hoggard High School.
Port City Daily does a tri-county school check-in every week, breaking down cases according to what the schools are reporting. It can be read here.
As of Apr. 23, clusters and outbreaks in congregate-living facilities include:
- New Hanover County Detention Facility: 96 total cases, with 31 staff and 65 inmates
- Other facility on Martin St.: 13 total resident cases
- Spring Arbor of Wilmington: 17 total cases, with nine staff and eight residents
VACCINATIONS
New Hanover Public Health increased vaccinations from 47,300 to 50,734 doses administered.
The NCDHHS dashboard shows the county has inoculated 68,327 people fully through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program; 81,004 have been partially vaccinated.
Health and Human Services Director Donna Fayko encouraged the public to schedule an appointment for a vaccine to prevent severe illness and even death from Covid-19.
“This virus is still very much here in our community,” she said in a release, “and while things may not seem as urgent, they still are. The levels of transmissions we are experiencing . . . and cases per day are still too high, and this creates an elevated risk of variants forming and pro-longing the pandemic. So we have more work to do. We must continue to protect one another and get vaccinated to make sure we put the pandemic behind us.”
Appointments are currently open through NHC public health and can be made here.
As well, the county is hosting a walk-up Pfizer vaccine clinic on Monday and Tuesday, Apr. 26-27, at CFCC’s Schwartz Center or Independence Mall. Anyone 16 and older can drop in at their convenience.
New Hanover County informs residents through emails, text alerts and social media posts. People can also sign up to receive notifications online or by contacting the Coronavirus Call Center at 910-798-6800 weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Other appointments through vaccine providers can be made at:
- NHRMC: Vaccinations can be scheduled at nhrmc.org/coronavirus or by calling (910) 662-2020 when appointments are available. NHRMC now has an email list available for anyone to sign up to receive notifications when COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available. The link to sign up can be found here.
- Wilmington Health: Vaccinations can be scheduled at WilmingtonHealth.com/COVIDvaccine or by calling (910) 407-5115 when appointments are available.
Public health also has released the following information for anyone attempting to get a vaccine in the county:
- Public health, as instructed by NCDHHS, will only vaccinate people who live or work in North Carolina.
- When appointments are available for the county’s online scheduling system, a unique email is required for each appointment. In addition, appointments cannot be transferred to someone else after they have been made.
- Spanish interpreters are available in the call center to assist with booking appointments and the online appointment system through the county is in English and Spanish when appointments are available.
- If you have received your first dose of the vaccine, you should receive your second dose of the vaccine through the same provider. Second doses should occur on the date outlined on your vaccine card and not be rescheduled.
As well, the county encourages folks to cancel appointments if and when they receive a vaccine elsewhere. To do so, call the county’s call center at 910-798-6800.
Brunswick County
CASES
Brunswick County’s case count is at 9,006 (up by 115 from last week). Its death count is 150 (up by two from last week), and the county is reporting 221 active cases and 8,635 recovered.
CDC is reporting Brunswick’s positivity rate is down from 7.45% 5.25%.
Brunswick’s Covid-19 dashboard has been down since Jan. 24 due to technical issues. However, it has updated numbers listed on a table chart.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated Apr. 23, NCDHHS is reporting no clusters or outbreaks at schools.
Port City Daily does a tri-county school check-in every week, breaking down cases according to what the schools are reporting. It can be read here.
There are two congregate-living facilities on the list as of Apr. 23:
- Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health: 28 total, with 26 staff (up by 1 from last week) and two resident
- Universal Health Care: 2 total staff cases
VACCINATIONS
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is reporting Brunswick administered over a thousand more first doses this week at 56,164 through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. It’s fully vaccinated more than 4,000 more people over the last week, landing at 48,822.
Brunswick County Public Health has appointment availability; questions can be sent to coronavirus@brunswickcountync.gov.
Folks who don’t have access to the internet can call public health at 910-253-2339, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pender County
CASES
According to Pender County Health and Human Services, last updated on Apr. 19, there have been 5,182 positive tests to date. Of those cases, 98% have recovered, and deaths have remained stable since last week at 69. Pender also reported four hospitalizations.
Pender breaks down its cases by area percentages:
Burgaw: 18% cases
Hampstead: 36% cases
Rocky Point: 17% cases
Watha/Willard: 7% cases
Other: 22% cases
CDC is reporting Pender’s positivity rate is down from last week from 9.05% to 8.78%.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated Apr. 23, NCDHHS lists the following clusters and outbreaks in Pender County congregate-living facilities:
- Ashe Gardens Care Facility: Two total staff cases
- The Laurels of Pender: 129 total cases, 61 staff, 68 residents, 11 deaths
- Woodbury Wellness Center: 146 total cases, 53 staff, 93 residents and nine resident deaths
- Pender County Jail: 22 total inmates
Its also reporting no clusters or outbreaks in K-12 schools in Pender County.
Port City Daily does a tri-county school check-in every week, breaking down cases according to what the schools are reporting. It can be read here.
VACCINATIONS
According to the state, vaccinations have gone up in the county from last week with almost 2,000 more people vaccinated at 14,293 through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. As well, 17,642 have been partially vaccinated.
Appointments are open through Pender County Public Health.
Folks can call 910-663-4200 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m or make online appointments at pendercountync.gov.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center serves a seven-county region so numbers from its Covid-19 dashboard aren’t necessarily reflective of only residents from New Hanover County.
Stats on NHRMC’s dashboard were updated Apr. 23
NHRMC has 1,978 Covid-19 patients admitted to the hospital for Covid-19. Of the overall patients, 1,646 were discharged and 309 have died (up one from last week).
The daily average of hospitalized Covid-19 patients has gone up from 12 to 19.
NHRMC has increased vaccinations by more than 1,500, and has administered 87,920 doses.
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