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North Carolina will begin Group 3 vaccinations beginning today (2/24/21). Child care providers and Pre-K – 12 schools are included in Group 3. COVID-19 vaccine supplies are limited, and Group 3 is a large population. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is working with its partners to support child care providers in accessing vaccines. Child care providers may visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website for more information.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) has now reported the first identification of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351 in the state of North Carolina. For important information on the B.1.351 variant, the COVID-19 vaccine,  and additional state recommendations to improve mask wearing based on guidance from the CDC, visit the NC DHHS website.

 

 

 

NC will move to Group 3 Frontline Essential Workers in the vaccine plan on February 24. Because supply is still very limited and the population of frontline essential workers is so large, this will begin with anyone working in child care or in PreK –12 schools starting on February 24.

Do you need to know if you are eligible? Find more information on the chart in the DEEPER DIVE: Group 3 – Frontline Essential Workers (School and Childcare), available in English and Spanish on the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website.

 

We now have a new COVID-19 Resources page on our website. Here, helpful resources including the Guidance for Families can be found in both English and Spanish.

Do you as an early educator or family member continue to have questions about face covering use in child care or know someone who does? The Face Covering Use in Child Care document has been updated recently and is a great resource to help with answering some of those questions.

A COVID-19 Vaccine Update with answers to vaccine questions that early educators and families may find helpful has been posted on the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) website.  For the latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and the state’s vaccine plan, visit the NC DHHS website.

Our Winter 2020/2021 newsletter that was released earlier this month is now also available in Spanish. As we continue with the NC COVID-19 Vaccine Plan, the newsletter includes information, updates, and resources on immunizations and vaccines that early educators will find helpful.

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The due date for the annual child care immunization report has been extended to February 1, 2021. Click here to read more about requirements for immunizations for children in child care and here to view the memo and get the instructions and worksheets from the NC Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health, Immunization Branch.

A COVID-19 Guidance for Families with Children in Child Care in English and Spanish is available for families to assist in answering frequently asked questions, including information on How to Protect Yourself and Others.

• Guidance-for-Families-1-2021-ENGLISH
• Guidance for Families 1-2021 SPANISH

It’s time for the 2020 annual child care immunization reporting. Click here to read more about requirements for immunizations for children in child care and here to view the memo and get the instructions and worksheets from the NC Department of Health and Human Services-Division of Public Health, Immunization Branch. The survey is due by December 15, 2020.

UPDATE: The annual child care immunization report deadline has been extended to February 1, 2021.

DHHS has new “Slow the Spread, Get Behind the Mask”  videos available in English and Spanish to help increase understanding of when a cloth face covering or mask is needed. Whatever your reason, get behind the mask.