- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Free Screening Available for Eligible Women
NORTH GEORGIA – The North Georgia Health District urges women ages 40 years and older to talk with their county health department or their doctor during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October about screening for breast cancer. Women who cannot afford mammograms may be eligible for free screening.
Breast cancer screenings are critical for women over 50, and through the Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BCCP), mammograms are accessible and free for all eligible women. Whether you do it for yourself or for your family, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time to get screened. Contact your county health department or doctor and schedule your screening. It could save your life.
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among Georgia women and accounts for 30 percent of all new cancer cases among women in Georgia. It is estimated that during 2020 in Georgia, 8,340 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,380 women will die from breast cancer.
Moreover, a disproportionate number of deaths occur among minority women or lower-income groups.
Black women in Georgia are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages, while white women are more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier stage when the cancer is still localized and more possible to be successfully treated.
Hispanic women have a lower likelihood of developing breast cancer (1 in 10) compared to white women (1 in 8) but they are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, regardless of age and economic status.
It was estimated that 3,200 Hispanic women in the United States died from breast cancer in 2018.
Health disparities are most likely due to cultural barriers, such as language, and barriers to accessing health care due to a person’s economic standing, immigration status or education.
The Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program provides access to breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for lower-income, uninsured, and underserved women who are between the ages of 40 to 64 for breast cancer and 21 to 64 for cervical cancer.
Contact a local county health department or physician today to learn more about breast cancer screening.
Health departments in the North Georgia Health District are in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties and can be located on the health district website at www.nghd.org.
Learn more about our Breast and Cervical Cancer Program HERE.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Examen gratuito disponible para mujeres elegibles
GEORGIA DEL NORTE – El Distrito de Salud del Norte de Georgia insta a las mujeres de 40 años o más a hablar con el departamento de salud de su condado o su médico durante el Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Mama en octubre sobre la detección del cáncer de mama. Las mujeres que no pueden pagar mamografías pueden ser elegibles para la detección.
Las pruebas de detección del cáncer de mama son fundamentales para las mujeres mayores de 50 años, y a través del Programa de Detección del Cáncer de Mama y Cervical de Georgia (BCCP, por sus siglas en inglés), las mamografías son accesibles y gratuitas para todas las mujeres elegibles. Ya sea que lo hagas por ti mismo o por tu familia, el Mes de Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Mama es el momento perfecto para hacerte la prueba. Comuníquese con el departamento de salud o el médico de su condado y programe su examen de detección. Esto podría salvarte la vida.
El cáncer de mama es el cáncer más diagnosticado entre las mujeres de Georgia y representa el 30 por ciento de todos los nuevos casos de cáncer entre las mujeres en Georgia. Se estima que durante 2020 en Georgia, 8.340 mujeres serán diagnosticadas con cáncer de mama y 1.380 mujeres morirán de cáncer de mama.
Además, un número desproporcionado de muertes ocurre entre las mujeres minoritarias o los grupos de menores ingresos.
Las mujeres Afro-Americanas en Georgia son más propensas a ser diagnosticadas con cáncer de mama en etapa posterior, mientras que las mujeres blancas son más propensas a ser diagnosticadas en una etapa temprana cuando el cáncer todavía está localizado y es más probable que se trate con éxito.
Las mujeres Hispanas tienen una menor probabilidad de desarrollar cáncer de mama (1 de cada 10) en comparación con las mujeres blancas (1 de cada 8), pero es más probable que sean diagnosticadas en etapas posteriores, independientemente de su edad y situación económica.
Se estimó que 3.200 mujeres Hispanas en los Estados Unidos murieron de cáncer de mama en 2018.
Las disparidades de salud son probablemente debido a las barreras culturales, como el idioma, y las barreras para acceder a la atención médica debido a la situación económica, el estatus migratorio o la educación de una persona.
El Programa de Detección del Cáncer de Mama y Cervical de Georgia proporciona acceso a servicios de detección y diagnóstico de cáncer de mama y cuello uterino para mujeres que no tienen suficiente dinero, seguro o acceso a servicios y también tienen entre 40 y 64 años para el cáncer de mama y de 21 a 64 años para el cáncer de cuello uterino..
Comuníquese con un departamento de salud o médico del condado local hoy mismo para obtener más información sobre la detección del cáncer de mama.
Los departamentos de salud en el Distrito de Salud del Norte de Georgia se encuentran en los condados de Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens y Whitfield y se pueden encontrar en el sitio web del distrito de salud: www.nghd.org.
Obtenga más información sobre nuestro Programa de Cáncer de Mama y Cervical en http://bit.ly/BreastCancer-NorthGA.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Cherokee County resident, Chris McKee, gave a thumbs up after he and passenger, Duncan McKee, received flu vaccinations at the public health Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic in Woodstock on September 30th
North GA – With COVID-19 still circulating, health officials are more urgently encouraging people to get their flu shot this year, and now *1,705 north Georgians have armed themselves against the flu at Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics led by Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield county health departments.
Conducted each fall in the North Georgia Health District since 2007, all six county Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics took place this year within the last two weeks of September.
Residents drove in for their flu shots, remaining safely in their vehicles, separated from others, while health department staff wore COVID-19 protective gear to guard against any possible transmission of the coronavirus. The vaccine provided included a quadrivalent flu vaccine that protects against four strains of flu, and for people 65 and older, a similar option was offered but is also a high dose flu shot that contains four times the protective antigen for those whose immune systems tend to weaken with age.
Besides being a safe and convenient method for a flu vaccination, the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics provide an opportunity for county health departments and partnering agencies to test local plans for rapidly administering vaccine or medication during a public health crisis. Participating community partners include local law enforcement, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), businesses and first responders such as the county Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Departments.
At this time of year through spring, influenza viruses circulate at higher levels in the U.S., so a well-timed flu shot reduces the chances of getting seasonal flu and spreading it to others. When more people are vaccinated, less flu spreads through communities.
In addition to a flu shot, other actions to prevent the spread of flu and other viruses should include:
- Washing hands often with soap and warm water, if available – if not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub
- Covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then dispose of the tissue
- Avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth – germs spread this way
- Avoiding close contact with sick people
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu
- Staying home if experiencing flu-like symptoms – fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, fatigue or vomiting and/or diarrhea – remain home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone without the aid of medication to keep from infecting others
Additionally, as with COVID-19, it is important to wear a mask or cloth face covering since this also helps prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses.
Because of the continued spread of coronavirus, it is more significant than ever that residents protect against the flu, reducing the dangerous risk of having both illnesses at the same time and to help avert a severe flu season that, combined with COVID-19 illnesses, could overwhelm our healthcare infrastructure.
For more information about influenza, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/flu.
To contact a county health department in the North Georgia Health District for a flu shot and other services, or to find the nearest health department location, log onto www.nghd.org and click the LOCATIONS tab.
*Of the 1705 residents vaccinated this year at the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics in North Georgia, the county health departments provided the following numbers of doses:
Cherokee County……. 290 Gilmer County………… 140 Pickens County………. 136
Fannin County………… 125 Murray County……….. 198 Whitfield County…….. 816
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Vaccine Available at Health Departments & Upcoming Drive-Thrus in North GA
NORTH GEORGIA– Why is it especially important to get a flu shot this year? Flu vaccine reduces the risk of getting the flu or having severe illness for those who do get the virus. That is particularly crucial considering COVID-19 is circulating and protection against the flu helps strengthen our immune system. Moreover, were we to have a severe flu season in conjunction with the coronavirus pandemic, our healthcare infrastructure could become critically overburdened.
Flu vaccine is available now at county public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties, and beginning next week, the health departments will conveniently inoculate residents 18 and older against the flu at their annual Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinics.
The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics will allow people to stay safely in their vehicles, separated from others, while health department staff wear COVID-19 protective gear as they provide flu vaccinations. Clients driving through will also be required to wear a mask or cloth face covering.
The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled, as follows:
- Whitfield: Tuesday, September 22nd, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., Dalton Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.
- Gilmer: Tuesday, September 22nd, 8 A.M. – 1 P.M., ETC Pavilion: Legion Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.
- Fannin: Thursday, September 24th, 9 A.M. – 3 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.
- Pickens: Monday, September 28th, 9 A.M. – 2 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.
- Murray: Tuesday, September 29th, 8 A.M. – 6 P.M., Murray County Parks and Recreation Department: 651 Hyden Tyler Road, Chatsworth, GA. Call (706) 695-4585 for more details. UPDATE: Due to rain, the Flu Shot Clinic in Murray County is now being conducted INSIDE the building instead of out in the parking lot as a drive-thru, as planned.
- Cherokee: Wednesday, September 30th, 9 A.M. – 2 P.M., Woodstock City Church: 150 Ridgewalk Parkway, Woodstock, GA. Call (770) 928-0133 or (770) 345-7371 for more details.
Since 2008, public health staff and community partners have tested their plans at the drive-thru flu shot clinics to rapidly administer medication during a public health crisis. Participating community partners include local law enforcement, volunteers, businesses and first responders such as the county Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services, local Law Enforcement and Fire Department.
The health departments offer quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against four strains of influenza, including the regular flu shot and the high-dose flu vaccine that contains four times the amount of protective antigen and is for people sixty-five and older.
The flu vaccine is no cost for anyone under one of several acceptable health insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others. For those paying out-of-pocket, the cost is still relatively low at $25 for the regular flu vaccine and $65 for the high-dose vaccine. Cash is accepted along with other forms of payment, depending on the county.
To arrange an appointment for a flu shot a county health department in the North Georgia Health District, log onto www.nghd.org and click on the Locations tab at the top of the home page.
To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.
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