Public health departments within the North Georgia Health District will soon begin distributing influenza vaccine to residents in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties.

With over 160 million doses of flu vaccine expected to be available nationwide for the 2010-2011 Flu Season, health officials are encouraging everyone over six months of age to get a flu shot as early as possible to be well protected. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective, and even if a flu shot is taken as early as September, it will continue to provide protection until the end of the flu season next spring.

North Georgia Health District takes aim at lowering tobacco usage rates and health-related problems here in North Georgia. Watch the local news story below to learn how you can access resources that will help you or a loved one quit for good!

http://www.wdnntv.com/?p=1807

The summer is over but travel plans continue as many North Georgians busily arrange for holiday vacations, business trips, family visits, response to international disaster or mission trips. Traveling any distance requires much preparation; however, traveling internationally can become quite complicated when it comes to health issues, and assistance is needed. That assistance is readily available for all North Georgians at the new Gilmer County International Travel Clinic.

Since international travel continues to grow significantly, including travel to developing areas of the world where visits were once rare, it is important that the traveler be prepared for possible exposure to various diseases. Generally, the risk of becoming ill during international travel depends on the region visited, but also, it depends on other factors such as age, health condition, length of stay and the activities planned. New or reemerging infectious diseases rarely seen currently in this part of the world may put the traveler at risk if exposed.

Free, online 8-week fitness program sponsored by UGA Cooperative Extension. Visit www.walkgeorgia.org to register for the fall session by September 8. Fall dates are September 5 - October 30, 2010. Individuals or teams of four people may participate.