RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
MPOX VACCINE AND TESTING ARE AVAILABLE IN NORTH GEORGIA
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MPOX (MONKEYPOX) VACCINE
| DPH Mpox Updates |
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Mpox vaccination appointment registration is now ONLINE!
Mpox vaccine appointment registration has now gone online in Georgia! The mpox vaccines are available through public health at no cost to the individual. However, due to a limited number of doses, the vaccines are only available by appointment, depending on supply, and only for people who are currently eligible for the vaccine.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Eligibility for vaccination is prioritized for people aged 18 and older who are at high risk of infection, including people who are:
- A contact to a mpox case identified in the last 14 days by public health via case investigation
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HIV positive and have multiple sex partners
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A man who has sex with men (MSM) and having multiple sex partners
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A PrEP patient and having multiple sex partners
ONLINE APPOINTMENT REGISTRATION
If you meet the eligibility criteria for m-pox vaccination, you can now click on the red button below to register ONLINE for an available appointment at one of two locations in the North Georgia Health District or at other public health monkeypox vaccination sites in Georgia.
The North Georgia Health District m-pox vaccination sites are:
- Cherokee County Health Department Woodstock Health Center, 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188
- Whitfield County Health Department, 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720
You may also call the Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line at (888) 457-0186.
Feel free to click on our Attestation for Administration of a JynneosTM Mpox Vaccine form to download and complete the form prior to your appointment.
Please note that "Walk-ins" will NOT be vaccinated upon arrival at the Cherokee and Whitfield County Health Departments. You must have an appointment to receive an mpox vaccination at these locations.
WHEN APPOINTMENTS ARE FULL
Vaccine supply is extremely limited across the U.S. Currently, states are awaiting additional allocations from our federal partners. At this time, the Woodstock Health Center and the Whitfield County Health Department are the only m-pox vaccination locations in our health district, and they do not have general vaccine availability. As these and other m-pox vaccination sites in Georgia receive vaccines, more appointments will be available as vaccine supply increases.
***UPDATE: The Fannin County Health Department reopened today, Thursday, July 28th - Thank you for your patience!***
Blue Ridge, GA – The Fannin County Health Department closed this afternoon, on Wednesday, July 27, due to a power outage that affected their building on Ouida Street. This closure also includes WIC services in Fannin County and all local in-office Environmental Health services. Work is being done to restore power as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we apologize for this inconvenience. Please log onto the North Georgia Health District website for updates at www.nghd.org or find us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Hepatitis B VACCINE is Available at All our County Health Departments & The Living Bridge Centers in North Georgia! Go HERE to our home page and click on your county for contact information.
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Monkeypox Vaccine Availability in Georgia
To date, DPH has confirmed 93 monkeypox cases in Georgia, all among men living in metro Atlanta. The majority of these cases identify as men who have sex with men. As such we are prioritizing vaccine distribution in five metro counties - Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton. There is no residency requirement; however, individuals must register for an appointment and meet certain eligibility requirements. JYNNEOS is a two-vaccine series with 28 days in between doses.
Because demand outweighs supply, DPH is following the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and prioritizing monkeypox vaccine for individuals at high risk of infection. Vaccination may be recommended for people who are close personal contacts of people with monkeypox, individuals who may have been exposed to monkeypox, or people who have increased risk of being exposed to the virus such as lab workers. Individuals are urged to speak with their healthcare provider if they are in one of these groups.
People with monkeypox in the current outbreak generally report having close, sustained physical contact with other people who have monkeypox. While many of those affected in the current global outbreaks are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can get the illness.
The North Georgia Health District office and all Public Health Departments, Programs and Services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties will be CLOSED on Monday for the Fourth of July.
Mako Medical Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing will be OPEN on the 4th from 8 AM to 3 PM at Pleasant Grove Park, 1732 Pleasant Grove Dr, Dalton GA 30721. Click HERE for more information.
Is your child ready for the upcoming school year with *Georgia’s school health requirements? Get it all done safely, conveniently, and affordably at a one-stop spot! The Cherokee County Health Department is conducting a Back to School Health Clinic from 2 to 6 PM on THREE upcoming Tuesdays: July 19, July 26, and August 2. The clinic will 
Click Back To School Health Clinic flyer (Eng/Sp) to download & sharebe held at the Canton and Woodstock Health Centers. The required Hearing, Dental, Vision and BMI/Nutrition Screenings will be available: Total cost for screenings is $60. Immunizations needed for school children will be provided for $21.90 each (for uninsured or underinsured). Medicaid (including Amerigroup, CareSource, Peachstate and WellCare), Peachcare for Kids, HUMANA, AETNA, United Health Care, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Ambetter, CIGNA and Coventry are accepted. The health department location in Canton is 1219 Univeter Road and the location in Woodstock is 7545 North Main Street. For more information, please call (770) 345-7371 in Canton or (770) 928-0133 in Woodstock.
Please note: Clients may be seen for these services at the health centers any weekday by appointment during regular clinic hours. Please call ahead using the phone number listed above for the preferred health center.
*https://georgia.gov/get-required-health-records-attend-school
HIV Testing is Self-care!
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North Georgia – In honor of National HIV Testing Day, free HIV testing will be offered in the North Georgia Health District on Monday, June 27th, at The Living Bridge Centers in Dalton and Canton and at the Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield County Health Departments. Walk-ins are welcome during regular clinic hours! Click HERE to check clinic hours for each location.
The Living Bridge Centers are also providing complementary condoms, cups, stickers, and more that day. The county health departments will offer a variety of items, as well.
Each year on June 27th, National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is recognized as a day to emphasize and encourage HIV testing. This year, NHTD is observed as COVID-19 and HIV epidemics continue to affect our communities and healthcare infrastructures.
Just as self-care has been particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV testing is self-care that helps people know their HIV status so they can begin the prevention or treatment they need to live a long and healthy life, regardless of their status.
For anyone unable to go to The Living Bridge Centers or county health departments on National HIV Testing Day, a free HIV self-test kit may be ordered online at https://www.gacapus.com/r/get-tested/ (if at any time that link seems to not function properly, please use this link instead: https://sendss.state.ga.us/sendss/!hivcasemanagement.pretestsurvey1).
For more information about HIV testing, prevention, and treatment, go to The Living Bridge Center website at https://www.nghd.org/tlbc-home.
These are The Living Bridge Center and Health Department Locations in North Georgia:
North Georgia - In honor of the federal holiday, Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th, our district and county offices will be closed on Monday, June 20th. This includes all public health services and programs in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties. We will resume our services the following day.
MAKO Medical COVID-19 testing in Dalton will remain open on Monday - please learn more HERE.
Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. It was first recognized as a national holiday last year in celebration of June 19, 1865, the date when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free the remaining enslaved people in the United States.
Please learn more about Juneteenth as a national Day of Observance by clicking on the Presidential Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2021.
ATLANTA – With temperatures expected to be in the high 90’s throughout the state for the next several days, and at times feeling like more than 100 degrees with the humidity, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging Georgians to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat and sun and to limit strenuous outdoor activity to prevent heat related illnesses.
To protect your health when temperatures are extremely high, remember to stay cool, stay hydrated and stay informed.
STAY COOL
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library or a friend or relative’s home – even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath is a much better way to cool off.
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The North Georgia Health District is part of the Georgia Department of Public Health. This District is comprised of six counties including Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield. Many programs and services exist throughout the district, all of which are designed to meet the needs of the people of North Georgia.
Our Vision
Our vision for the North Georgia Health District is healthy people, families and communities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and protect the health of the people in the North Georgia Health District wherever they live, work and play, through population-based preventive programs including: