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Franklin County Offers COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics For Children

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Franklin County parents have several opportunities to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 in the next few weeks, and Health Director Scott S. Lavigne announced that the health department will be open extended hours so children don’t have to miss school and parents don’t have to miss work.

Vaccinations for children between 5-11 years old are available now, and extended hours will be offered tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 10) and Wednesday, Nov. 17, according to a press statement from Lavigne. The two “after-school/after-work” clinics will offer appointments from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for children to get the Pfizer vaccine.

In addition, the health department will take advantage of the pre-Thanksgiving holiday for students on Wednesday, Nov. 24 and offer an all-day clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Visit www.franklincountync.us/covid to schedule an appointment.

Parents can sign up for the  “Safe for the Holidays” vaccination event on Nov. 24 throughout the day, Lavigne said. A parent must accompany the child for the vaccination at the health department in Louisburg.

“The same Pfizer Vaccine that’s helped hundreds of Franklin County youth ages 12 to 17 avoid getting COVID, is now available in a lower pediatric dose that has been shown to be safe and effective for kids ages 5 to 11. It’s a great way to get kids ready to safely see their family and friends as the holidays approach,” Lavigne said. “If you bring your child to one of these events, and get a follow-up vaccine three-weeks later, your child could be fully vaccinated (and protected) by the holidays and before the New Year begins!”

Send questions about COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5-11 to covidvax@franklincountync.us or call 919.496.8113.

Franklin Co. Health Department to Offer Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Franklin County Government

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be available at the Franklin County Health Department beginning Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Testing will be available on Tuesdays from 1 – 2 p.m. by appointment only. No walk-ins will be accepted.

Appointments will be available to patients without insurance first. If multiple people need testing, each person will need to schedule their own appointment time.

Non-insured patients will receive a free test sent to the State lab; insured patients will have their insurance billed.

Please bring your photo ID and insurance card, if applicable, and wear a face mask or covering to your appointment.

To make an appointment, call (919) 496-2533. The Franklin County Health Department is located at 107 Industrial Drive, Suite C in Louisburg, NC.

Franklin Co. Health Dept. Temporarily Closed; Six Employees Test COVID-19 Positive

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Franklin County Government

As noted previously in prior communication, on Friday, 4/24/2020, the Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) received positive coronavirus test–results for two (2) employees. Those two (2) employees do not serve as healthcare providers within the department. Also as previously noted, on Friday 4/24/2020 a total of 48 Health Department staff had samples collected and submitted for coronavirus testing. 

As a precaution, the FCHD was disinfected on Saturday, 4/25/2020, and as of this current release, the Department is remaining closed for regular business from 4/27/2020 until operations resume on Monday 5/4/2020, at 8 a.m. 

The Health Department has received the results for all staff tested on Friday 4/24/2020, and those results indicate that an additional four (4) staff have tested positive, bringing the current total of Health Department Employees with positive test results to six (6). None of the Health Department‘s now six (6) total positive employees are healthcare providers. 

The Franklin County Health Department continues to conduct Contact Tracing for COVID-19, so any individual suspected of being exposed to the coronavirus will be notified by Health Department staff and given specific instructions on what they need to do next.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department is adopting a stringent response to this current situation. As of the date and time of this release, the following Health Department programs will be closed from Monday 4/27/2020 until they re–open on Monday, 5/4/2020: 

  • All clinical services; 
  • Care Management Services (clients may call their workers for call–back); and 
  • WIC (clients may call for assistance). 

After consultations with NCDHHS, the Health Department has been approved to move forward with the following plan for our CLINICAL closures this week: 

  • Clinic patients provided with the option of receiving some mandated services at our neighboring counties’ Health Departments;
  • Patients given the option to receive services at other healthcare providers both inside and outside the county. Patients whose appointments were canceled are being notified and those appointments will be rescheduled.

Environmental Health Services (septic, wells, food & lodging inspections, etc.) and the Franklin County Home Health Agency services will continue to operate remotely (as they have been doing for some time). Limited drop–off service will be available for Environmental Health needs. 

For the week of 4/27/2020 through 5/1/2020, only critical Health Department employees with a negative test and no current symptoms (i.e. with no fever as verified by temperature checks three–times per day) have returned to work to continue the County‘s Emergency Operations Center and to complete contact investigations. The Health Department will resume all services on Monday, 5/4/2020. 

Look for more updates from the Franklin COVID–19 EOC as more information becomes available.