RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
It’s NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK - Dec. 3-9!
North Georgia – The holidays are almost here, and that means family gatherings and holiday parties where people tend to be in close personal contact. Don’t bring flu to the festivities. National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 3-9, and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) encourages all Georgians to get their flu vaccine. The flu shot is the best protection against the flu.
“Flu season is here until possibly as late as May, and we anticipate an active flu season this year,” said Sherry Gregory, RN, Infectious Disease Supervisor of the North Georgia Health District, based in Dalton. “It’s important that North Georgians understand the best way to protect against influenza is to receive an annual flu vaccine. As long as the virus is circulating, it’s never too late to vaccinate.”
Influenza can be a serious disease that leads to hospitalization and sometimes death. On average, more than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized each year for illnesses associated with seasonal influenza virus infections.[1] Regardless of race, age, gender or ethnicity, anyone can get sick from the flu. Those especially at risk are adults 65 years of age and older, children younger than 5, pregnant women, people with certain chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or other long-term medical conditions. Preventive actions such as simply washing hands and covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing can guard against the flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine. Getting a flu vaccine is more convenient than ever. Public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties have flu vaccine for people of all ages, including pediatric and quadrivalent vaccine as well as Fluzone High Dose for people 65 years old and older. Log onto nghd.org to find these North Georgia Health District county health departments’ contact information by clicking the LOCATIONS tab at top of the home page. Many physicians, pharmacies, employers, schools, colleges and universities also offer flu vaccines. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), also known as the “nasal spray” flu vaccine, should not be used during the 2017-2018 flu season.
National Influenza Vaccination Week emphasizes the importance of receiving an annual flu vaccination. Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu. So be wise and get immunized against the flu. For more information on immunization, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/influenza-what-you-need-know.
The Living Bridge Center1 has moved and is holding an Open House in observance of World AIDS Day2 on Friday, December 1st from 10 AM to 2 PM. The new location for The Living Bridge Center (which had been housed in the Whitfield County Health Department) is 1200 W. Waugh Street in Dalton, at the corner of W. Waugh Street and Broadrick Drive. FREE HIV and Hepatitis C Testing will be offered during the Open House, and staff will provide tours of the new facility. Light refreshments will be served. Come join us! For more information, call (706) 281-2360.
1 The Living Bridge Center, provider of Ryan White Part B and Part C, serves those living with HIV within North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Public Health. Funded services include: outpatient HIV ambulatory care including HIV, primary care, and sub-specialty medical care; medical case management and adherence; oral health; non-medical case management; individual and group level mental health and substance abuse outpatient counseling; consumer advisory services; laboratory and nutritional services; pharmaceutical assistance; linguistic services; medical transportation; and HIV counseling, testing, and prevention services.
2 World AIDS Day, designated on December 1st every year since 1988, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control.
Dalton (GA) – Hours of operation for the Whitfield County Health Department will change by half an hour only on Tuesdays, beginning November 27. The new hours will be from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM on Tuesday, which remains the longest day of operation for the health department each week. The Whitfield County Health Department extended operational hours on Tuesdays in 2010 to provide residents with better access to public health clinical services.
All hours for the Whitfield County Health Department will be as follows:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Tuesday - 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Friday - 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
The dental clinic is open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM, except for lunch from 1 PM to 2 PM., and from 8 AM to 2 PM on Friday, with no lunch.
The Whitfield County Health Department is located at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton. To learn more about the health department and the wide variety of public health services provided there, log onto http://nghd.org/locations/health-depts/whitfield-health.html.
North Georgia – Ready to quit? You can do it for at least one day this Thursday, November 16th during the Great American Smokeout®! Every year on the third Thursday of November, many Georgians join tobacco users across the nation in giving up using tobacco and electronic cigarettes for the entire day during this Great American Smokeout® event, initiated by the American Cancer Society[1]. Quitting for just one day is an important step toward a healthier you, especially if that one day can lead to many more.
The Georgia Smokefree Air Act[3], passed in 2005, has reduced exposure to secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in all enclosed facilities, including buildings owned, leased, or operated by the State or local governing authorities.
Now, it’s your turn to reduce tobacco-related health hazards by quitting the use of tobacco and electronic cigarettes during the Great American Smokeout®.
Here in Georgia, we can help. The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line[4] is a free resource that can help tobacco users reach their goal of quitting. The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line (1-877-270-STOP; Spanish speakers call 1-877-2NO-FUME; TTY: 1-877-777-6534 for the hearing impaired) provides counseling for Georgia tobacco users ages 13 and older. Callers speak with tobacco cessation counselors who help to develop a unique quitting plan for each person.
North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counites, Drug Free Cherokee, Cherokee Focus, and the Cherokee Youth Council encourage Georgians to go tobacco-free during the Great American Smokeout®, and beyond!
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1 https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html
2 https://dph.georgia.gov/tobacco
3 https://dph.georgia.gov/sites/dph.georgia.gov/files/SmokeFree%20Act_Booklet.pdf
Blue Ridge (GA) – Free and confidential Rapid HIV Testing will be available at the Fannin County Health Department on Monday, November 20th! Hours for the free testing are from 9 to 11 AM and no appointment is needed. The CDC recommends that everyone between ages 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, and those at increased risk – such as gay and bisexual men, injection drug users, or persons with multiple sexual partners – should be tested at least annually. For more information, call the Fannin County Health Department at (706) 632-3023.
Jasper (GA) - Striving for excellence in immunizations every day, the Pickens County Health Department in Jasper, Georgia was recently recognized for demonstrating leadership and influence in getting Georgians immunized. At this year’s Immunize Georgia Conference, coordinated by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Pickens County Health Department staff was presented with the Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Award. This award, named after Walter A. Orenstein, MD, DSc (Hon) of the Emory Vaccine Center and Emory University, honors individuals, agencies or coalitions that demonstrate excellence in providing immunization care.
“The staff at the Pickens County Health Department was very excited to receive the Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunizations Award,” said Leyna Mashburn, RN, BSN, health department nurse manager. “From the clerks at the front desk to the nurses in the back, each staff member plays an integral role in making our immunization program a success. We strive to increase awareness about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases in our community through various outreach opportunities. The Pickens County Health Department is working towards keeping the citizens of Pickens County healthy!”
Clinicians at the Pickens County Health Department routinely incorporate immunization needs assessments into every client visit, from Family Planning counseling to STD testing to Child Health consultations. Client immunization records are accessed through Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS) and clients are strongly encouraged to receive all required and recommended vaccines to ensure they are up-to-date.
Staff continuously works with community partners to promote vaccines in every age group by working closely with schools, daycares, private providers and businesses to increase immunization rates for children, teens and adults.
They also identify any immunization issues or difficulties that need to be addressed.
When cases of infectious diseases, such as pertussis, were identified in local schools, the Pickens County Health Department collaborated with the schools to identify, test and treat patients and conduct vaccination clinics, as needed. They coordinated with the district health director, infectious disease staff and public information officer to prepare information for distribution to local physicians’ offices and to the community.
Ashley Ridley, RN, BSHA, North Georgia Health District Immunization Coordinator, said, “Dynamite comes in small packages. The Pickens County Health Department may be comparatively small; however, the staff makes a significant impact on their community and the patients they assist. Due to their hard work and determination to increase immunization coverage and decrease vaccine-preventable diseases, they deserve to be recognized for the arduous work they do on a daily basis.”
Dolores Benzel was operations support manager for the Cherokee County Health Department prior to retiring in 2013. During her 28 years of faithful service, she was loved and admired by her employees and coworkers. She was the devoted mother of two sons and was a beloved grandmother and great grandmother. On October 20th, Dolores passed away from us, but she will always be remembered as a truly lovely person and an amazing public health champion.
Save A Life. Get Checked. It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
Chatsworth, GA – FREE Breast Exams will be provided at the Murray County Health Department on Tuesday, October 24th in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Come by the health department located at 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road in Chatsworth anytime on the 24th from 8 AM to 6 PM. NO appointment is necessary. Save a life and get checked during the Breast Cancer Awareness event at the Murray County Health Department! For more details, call (706) 695-4585. For more information about breast cancer and prevention of this and other types of cancer, log onto www.cdc.gov/cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness at Fannin County Health Department!
Blue Ridge, GA – FREE Breast Exams, Free Gifts, Information Packets and delicious Snacks are all part of the Breast Cancer Awareness activities planned at the Fannin County Health Department on Monday, October 23rd! It all happens from 9 AM until 11 AM at the health department, located at 95 Ouida Street in Blue Ridge, GA. Breast cancer prevention education will also be provided and NO appointment is necessary. Save a life and get checked during the Breast Cancer Awareness event at the Fannin County Health Department! For more details, call (706) 632-3023. For more information about breast cancer and prevention of this and other types of cancer, log onto www.cdc.gov/cancer.