In following the ongoing Hepatitis A scare in Fayetteville, North Carolina, we’ve learned today from reporter James Halpin of the Fayetteville Observer that “[c]ounty health officials have so far vaccinated roughly 2,000 people who may have been exposed to hepatitis A while dining at the Olive Garden.”
According to Halpin’s article:
Officials at the clinic vaccinated about 800 people Tuesday and up to an estimated 1,300 more on Wednesday in an effort to prevent the disease in those who dined or worked at the North McPherson Church Road eatery on days when an employee who tested positive was working, Health Department Director Buck Wilson said.
“We probably did almost twice as many (Wednesday) as we did (Tuesday),” Wilson said. “We are noticing that we’re more efficient in our delivery. We’re fine-tuning our process.”
The Cumberland County Health Department announced that it will continue to administer the hepatitis A vaccine today at its free clinic located at 1235 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina for those who dined or worked at the restaurant only on July 28, 29, 31 and August 1, 2 and 8. It is important for potentially exposed individuals to note that the vaccine is only effective if administered within two weeks of exposure to the virus. Accordingly, the health department clinic will be providing shots until August 22 in order to accommodate those who may have been exposed while visiting the Fayetteville, North Carolina Olive Garden on August 8.