Vaccines are available at health departments in North Georgia! 

North GA – Think about it. Which seems better? The quick sting of a vaccination or the painful consequences of a disease that last much longer? 

In an effort to protect every adult and child, the Georgia Department of Public Health established Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week, observed March 12-16, 2018, to serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines for preteens and teens are available at public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties. 

“Often, parents don’t realize that the health of a preteen or teen is still a priority, and though adolescents may become increasingly aware of their health and the need for vaccinations, many don’t take it seriously enough to pursue going to their doctor or local health department,” said Ashley Ridley, RN, BSHA, Immunizations Coordinator for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health. "It’s up to parents to make it a priority to have their preteen or teen vaccinated against preventable diseases.” 

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health Rule (511-2-2), all students who are born on or after January 1, 2002, are entering or transferring into seventh grade or are “new entrants” into eighth through twelfth grades in Georgia need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) AND an adolescent meningococcal vaccination (MenACWY). This law affects all public and private schools including, but not limited to, charter schools, community schools, juvenile court schools and other alternative school settings (excluding homeschool).  

Vaccines are the best defense we have against serious, preventable and sometimes deadly contagious diseases. They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and meningitis. Immunizations also reduce absences both at school and after school activities and decrease the spread of illness at home, school and the community. 

The CDC currently recommends the following vaccines for preteens and teens:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
• Influenza (flu)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Meningococcal Disease (MenACWY)

Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is an opportunity to raise awareness through schools, health care providers and the media regarding preteen immunizations, particularly Georgia’s pertussis and meningococcal requirements for incoming seventh-grade students. To find out if a preteen or teen is up-to-date on all vaccinations, see a physician or contact the nearest county health department in North Georgia at:

Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133

Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023

Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363

Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585

Pickens County Health Department:  60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821

Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 226-2621  

For more information, click here to the immunization section on the Georgia Department of Public Health website.