News Flash

For Immediate Release

09/20/2022    

COVID-19 Information

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVID-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Vaccine Information

Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVIDvaccine
Follow Us: www.facebook.com/rowancountyhealth 

Rowan County COVID-19 Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

Rowan County Public Health is Offering the Bivalent Booster

Rowan County Public Health is currently offering the new bivalent booster, which targets both the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the COVID-19 virus. Currently, both strains of the virus remain the most prevalent ones in our state and are responsible for most of the sickness that is being seen. 

As new variants of the virus emerge, it is important that you stay up to date on your boosters. By doing this, you are receiving the best protection against COVID-19 and avoiding any waning that may occur with your previous COVID-19 vaccinations. This is especially true as we approach the fall and winter months when the flu is more prevalent, and we find ourselves inside more.

If you are at least 2 months out from your last COVID-19 shot, either since your last booster or since completing your primary series, you are now eligible for the new bivalent booster. Pfizer’s bivalent booster shot is for anyone twelve and older, whereas the Moderna bivalent booster is for anyone over eighteen.

As we see our county’s COVID-19 transmission going down, Rowan County Public Health continues to strongly urge you to do the following things, in addition to getting vaccinated, to ensure that we reduce our level of transmission as much as we can:  

• Continue to wear a high-quality mask when going out in public, especially among large crowds.
• Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Make  necessary ventilation improvements to your home and/or work area.
• Follow the recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or a confirmed case of COVID-19.
• Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• If you are at a high risk of getting very sick, talk with your healthcare provider about additional preventative actions. They may suggest that you wear a high-quality mask or respirator, such as a N95 mask, when indoors and out in public.
• If you have household or social contact with someone at an elevated risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact and consider wearing a high-quality mask when inside with them.  For more information on how to receive FREE tests at home, please visit NC DHHS or USPS. You can also call us at 980-432-1800 or email our COVID Team at Covid-19@rowancountync.gov to schedule a pickup for at-home tests. 
• Seek out a prescription for antiviral pills, such as Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, within the first five days that your symptoms appear. For more information on treatment, please visit the NCDHHS website.

If you are interested in getting your COVID-19 vaccination or receiving your Moderna or Pfizer bivalent booster, please call Rowan County Public Health at 704-216-8863 to make an appointment. Due to the high volume of calls, you may need to leave your name and phone number. If this is the case, please know that one of our staff will follow up with you as soon as possible to make an appointment for you. We thank you in advance for your patience. 

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PIO Contact:
Amy Smith
704-216-8859
amy.smith@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - September 20, 2022 (PDF)