PITTSBORO — As of July 7th, 50% of the Chatham County population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, marking a significant milestone in the county’s fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, Chatham became the 10th county in the state to reach that figure.
Additionally, around 60% of the county’s eligible population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are grateful to the 37,000 Chatham residents who have taken the simple action of getting the COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves and those around them,” said Chatham County Public Health Director Mike Zelek. “This is how we beat COVID-19, and it’s as easy as ever for others to join this group. The benefits from being vaccinated are clear. From those of us working in public health and healthcare who have seen the damage that COVID-19 has caused over the past 16 months, as well as the joy, relief and protection that the COVID-19 vaccine brings, we encourage you to join this 50% and roll up your sleeve today.”
Among the benefits those who are vaccinated get from rolling up their sleeve:
Protection from COVID-19: From May 6 to June 28, 2021, 99% of COVID-19 cases, 99% of hospitalizations and 99% of COVID-19 deaths in North Carolina were among unvaccinated people, according to NCDHHS.
Safety Around Others: Those who are vaccinated are much less likely to get COVID-19 from or give COVID-19 to others, so they can be around both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals much more safely than those who are not fully vaccinated.
No Need to Quarantine: Unless they are experiencing symptoms, vaccinated people do not need to quarantine if they’ve recently spent time or came into close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. This means they do not need to miss two weeks of school, work or gatherings outside of the home due to quarantine, another reason why getting vaccinated is the best way to get back to normal.
Ending the Pandemic: High vaccination rates are the way we end COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of vaccinations can already be seen in current low case rates, which will continue to decline as vaccination rates increase.
Joining the Community: The vaccine is not experimental. In Chatham County alone, 37,000 people have now gotten one of the three safe and effective vaccines. By getting vaccinated, folks are joining a group of people taking steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community.
By visiting myspot.nc.gov, residents can put in their city or ZIP code and find multiple locations in their area to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Locations are also sortable by type of vaccine: the Pfizer vaccine, which is available to all individuals 12 years of age and older, and the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines, which are available to all individuals 18 years of age and older. There are many options in and around Chatham County.
COVID-19 testing shifts from Pittsboro to Goldston
Starting this week, StarMed Healthcare will be providing COVID-19 testing at Goldston Town Hall, 40A Coral Avenue, Goldston, from 2-7 p.m. on Wednesdays alongside its COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The Monday testing events previously held at the Central Carolina Community College campus in Pittsboro will no longer be held.
StarMed will offer nasal swab PCR tests for no cost and optional rapid blood antibody tests for $50 at each. Text the word “COVID” to 704-850-6996 to pre-register and complete a virtual visit to reduce wait time for testing. Patients can also register on site and be screened by a provider.
To see a full list of COVID-19 testing sites in and around Chatham County, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place. Learn more about COVID-19 testing at www.chathamcountync.gov/coronavirustesting.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and the CCPHD’s vaccination plans, visit www.chathamcountync.gov/coronavirusvaccine. To learn more about the Chatham County Public Health Department, visit www.chathamcountync.gov/publichealth or www.facebook.com/chathamhealth.