Palmetto State Extra: Your Health And You

November 08, 2022

**Under The Influence: Several HBCUs Will Hold “Stay Well Vaccine Activations,” Recognizing HBCU’s Positive Influence on The Black Community**
The 2022 Stay Well HBCU Campus Tour will equip HBCU communities with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions regarding the COVID-19 Vaccinations available.

According to the CDC, under 50% of African Americans have received their first COVID-19 Vaccination Shot. Hundreds of Americans are still dying each day from COVID, and hospitalizations have been rising again in some areas, with this number likely to rise this winter. As a direct response, The We Can Do This Campaign this month announced that it is hosting several vaccine activations at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) in response to the undeniable impact of COVID on college students nationwide.

The 2022 HBCU Campus Tour will partner with several on-campus and off-campus partners each week. Capturing the community, student population and alumni with messaging, activations and Vaccines for each group at each stop

**Rabid Skunk Confirmed in Chesterfield County; Two Pets Exposed**

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed that a skunk found near Highway 151 and Eubanks Road in Jefferson, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. No people are known to have been exposed at this time. Two dogs were exposed and will be quarantined as required in the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.

The skunk was submitted to DHEC's laboratory for testing on October 26, 2022, and was confirmed to have rabies on October 27, 2022.

"To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space," said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program Team Leader. "If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator, or wildlife rehabilitator." If you believe that you or someone you know has had contact with or been potentially exposed to this or another suspect animal, please reach out to your local Environmental Affairs office. An exposure is defined as direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal. If your pet is found with wounds of unknown origin, please consider that your pet may have been exposed to rabies.