- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is March 13-17
North Georgia – Let’s face it – nobody likes getting shots – but a shot lasts a second: diseases 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 13-17, 2017, to serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Preteens are at an age when they are becoming more independent and social. They spend more time out with friends, playing sports, going to sleepaway camps and attending parties. While this is a fun part of growing up, these activities could increase their risk for contracting potentially life-threatening diseases,” said Sheila Lovett, director for the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Program. “Parents, make it a priority to vaccinate your preteen against these preventable diseases.”
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health Rule (511-2-2), all students born on or after January 1, 2002, entering or transferring into seventh grade and any “new entrant” into eighth through 12th 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 home schools).
These vaccines are available at county public health departments in the North Georgia Health District. Our public health department locations and phone numbers are as follows:
Cherokee: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115 - (770) 345-7371 / 7545 North Main Street, Woodstock, GA 30188 - (770) 928-0133
Fannin: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA - (706) 632-3023
Gilmer: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 - (706) 635-4363
Murray: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705 - (706) 695-4585
Pickens: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143 - (706) 253-2821
Whitfield: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720 - (706) 226-2621
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 question parents often ask about vaccinations for their preteen or teen is ‘Why does my child need this vaccine?’,” said Ashley Ridley, RN, BSHA, Immunization Coordinator for the North Georgia Health District. “The answer is simple. Vaccinations are the best way to prevent diseases such as meningitis, which can cause shock, coma and even death within hours of the first symptom, and the Human Papillomavirus, also known as HPV, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women, as well as other oral and genital cancers in men and women; therefore, it is recommended that, ideally, the vaccine be given to girls and boys before they become sexually active and exposed to HPV.”
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Jasper, GA – Hours of operation will soon change at the Pickens County Health Department. Beginning Monday, March 13, 2017, the new clinic hours at the health department will be:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
For more information about the Pickens County Health Department and local public health services, please contact the health department at 60 Health Way in Jasper, call (706) 253-2821 or log onto www.nghd.org and click on the LOCATIONS tab.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
North Georgia Health District Public Health Departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties offer AFFORDABLE Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) for Women! Just click on the name of your county up above to find your health department and how to contact them.
Our services include:
- A full range of birth control options, including Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)
- Screening and treatment for STDs/HIV
- Reproductive life planning
- Health history and physical examination
- Pregnancy testing and counseling
Be sure to contact your County Health Department in North Georgia to get more information. . . .
Get in touch with them today!
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Cherokee County Health Department presents
Your One-Stop-Spot for School Students’ State Health Requirements!
Prepare your child for the upcoming school year. The Cherokee County Health Department is conducting a Kindergarten Round-Up Health Clinic on Tuesday, March 21st from 2 to 6 p.m. Locations for the health clinic will be at the public health department offices in both Canton and Woodstock. The required Hearing, Dental, Vision and Nutrition Screenings will be available. Immunizations will be provided to school-age children for $21.90, each (for uninsured or underinsured). Medicaid (including Amerigroup, Peachstate and Wellcare), Peachcare for Kids, HUMANA, AETNA, United Health Care, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (immunizations, only), CIGNA and Coventry are accepted. The health department location in Canton is1219 Univeter Road and the address in Woodstock is 7545 North Main Street. For more information, please call (770) 345-7371 in Canton or (770) 928-0133 in Woodstock.
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