Public health departments are seeing an influx of cash and attention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but long term, those dollars may not stick around.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought increased awareness to public health departments â how they serve communities, what services they can offer and their role in emergency response. Health departments have been tasked with leading the charge in pandemic response. With that push came additional dollars in the form of COVID-19 relief grants.
In Catawba County, the increased funding paid for COVID-19 testing, tracing, vaccination and outreach efforts.
Though some local leaders say itâs too soon to tell if funding of county health departments will increase or change due to the pandemic, Lenoir-Rhyne University Associate Professor of Public Health Randall Bergman isnât confident.
Clock ticking on Johnson & Johnson doses at drugstore in Taylorsville
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines go unused in Alexander County as demand drops By Steve Ohnesorge | May 11, 2021 at 10:17 PM EDT - Updated May 11 at 10:17 PM
TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) - It wasnât that long ago when lines formed every time a COVID-19 vaccination clinic opened.
These days, though, not so much.
In fact, some places are now begging for folks to come and get a shot.
At Town and Country Drugs in Taylorsville, owners wanted to do something for the community.
âThere were a lot of people expressing interest in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it was just one dose,â said Pharmacist Phillip Sprinkle.
Alexander County Commissioners Meet, Approve Bid For New Park
Alexander County Commissioners Meet, Approve Bid For New Park
April 28, 2021
Construction will begin soon on the new Courthouse Park as the Alexander County Board of Commissioners approved a bid for the project at their meeting Monday (April 26).
David Icenhour, Executive Director for the Alexander County Economic Development Corporation, recommended the low bid submitted by Lail Builders, Inc. of Hickory totaling $609,560. It was noted that Lail Builders, Inc. is not associated with Commissioner Josh Lail. The Alexander County park project will consist of grading, site work, landscaping, sidewalks, and a performance stage on county property located at 131 West Main Avenue in downtown Taylorsville.
3 vaccine clinics held in Alexander, including one at family run drug store
Vaccinations in N.C. rural communities improving By Steve Ohnesorge | March 3, 2021 at 5:11 PM EST - Updated March 3 at 6:32 PM
TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. (WBTV) - Health officials in Alexander County say they have made “great progress” in their vaccinations now that the state has been shipping consistent supplies of the vaccine.
Health Director Leeanne Whisnant said more than 6,000 vaccinations have been completed and there is no more waiting list for the 65 and older crowd.
Family-owned pharmacy distributing vaccine in Alexander County
The next step is to vaccinate essential frontline workers in Phase 3 and Whisnant said they are ready.