Vaccinations

North Carolina has seen 11 measles cases since December, with many of them occurring in communities where vaccination rates are below a level that would prevent community spread.

The state plans to keep its childhood vaccination schedule, which includes required and recommended shots that are no longer part of federal guidelines.

Some doctors in N.C. are encouraging individuals to get vaccinated against measles, as there have been more than 160 cases in nine states so far this year.

For the latest week of data, there were 435 hospital admissions for COVID-19, up nearly four-fold from a low point of 117 during the week of June 24. Despite the increase, hospitalizations are still well below the numbers seen both earlier this year and at the height of the pandemic.

Pediatricians and public health offices around North Carolina are getting doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week and say they are ready for parents to bring their little ones. State health officials encourage parents to vaccinate their children, saying the vaccine is safe and effective.

Pfizer plans to submit new data to the Food and Drug Administration this week, bringing families with young children one step closer to a long-awaited vaccine.

The military is taking a hard line on troops seeking religious exemptions to the COVID vaccine mandate. Lawyers say that could have consequences for others who seek different kinds of religious accommodations.

According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, new reported cases have jumped more than 50% since last week to 7,279. Hospitalizations increased by 36 patients.

About half have been wasted because of leftover doses in an opened vial, and the other half because they reached an expiration date, according to data provided by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.