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MINUTES-Draft <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> February 28, 2024 <br /> Keith Bagby <br /> Mr. Bagby thanked Dr. Jonnal for showing interest in learning more about Orange <br /> Partnership, for which he is the chair, and thanked Commissioner Fowler for bringing the idea of <br /> a land use ordinance related to regulating tobacco and vape shops to the BOCC. Mr. Bagby <br /> gifted both board members a tote bag from Orange Partnership. <br /> In response, Commissioner Fowler shared that she has made a proposal to the BOCC about <br /> advancing such an ordinance, which she learned their attorney was already working on, and <br /> that she has been in contact with several local mayors to seek further support. <br /> Dr. Rachel Royce <br /> Dr. Royce shared that earlier that day the CDC recommended that individuals who are 65+ <br /> years of age should get a second COVID-19 booster if they are 4+ months from their last <br /> booster or 3+ months from COVID infection. She wondered if this would happen, though, as <br /> there is generally low uptake of COVID vaccines and currently only 42% of adults who are 65+ <br /> years of age are fully vaccinated and boosted. Dr. Royce added that, compared to last year, the <br /> number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide is about the same and that most deaths <br /> related to COVID-19 occur among individuals who are 65+ years of age and/or among those <br /> with comorbidities. <br /> Related to infectious disease prevention, Dr. Royce expressed concerns about Measles, as it is <br /> 6-8x more infectious than the flu and she is unsure about the vaccination rates in Orange <br /> County. <br /> Dr. Royce concluded her comments by saying that she has looked at the NC Department of <br /> Health and Human Services (DHHS) Medicaid Enrollment Dashboard, which can be found at <br /> https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/reports/dashboards/enrollment-dashboard, and was concerned that <br /> the number of new enrollments into expanded Medicaid appears to be tapering off with around <br /> 3,000 total new people enrolled. She added that Medicaid expansion is a significant way to help <br /> people avoid financial difficulties related to medical debt and thus improve access to housing, <br /> and that she would like to consider ways to increase enrollment. <br /> IV. Priority Committee Updates <br /> Substance Use Disorders — Dr. Baldwin, Dr. Crandell, Dr. Jonnal, and Dr. Royce <br /> Dr. Crandell shared that the Substance Use Disorders committee had met a few weeks ago <br /> and had the opportunity to speak virtually with Landon Weaver, Community Paramedic <br /> Coordinator, who has access substantial amount of data related to health issues among those <br /> seeking emergency services in the county. He said that the committee is working to get a copy <br /> of this dataset for the health department, which David Gahary, Informatics Manager, would be <br /> able to analyze. Dr. Jonnal chimed in to mention that this dataset is comprehensive about all <br /> EMS calls in Orange County and can likely be used to help target and frame future interventions <br /> by the Board of Health and health department. <br /> Dr. Crandell added that Dr. Sharon Brown from NC DHHS also spoke with the committee at <br /> their recent meeting about Opioid and other substance use in the state, specifically highlighting <br /> fentanyl and that about 80% of fentanyl in circulation in North Carolina was obtained illicitly. <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2024 Agenda and Abstracts/ <br /> February Page 2 <br />