- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
North GA – The North Georgia Health District of the Georgia Department of Public Health is joining the statewide public health campaign in urging residents to clean up around their homes, their yards and their communities and discard unnecessary items that can hold water. TIP 'N TOSS after every rainfall to reduce the number of mosquitoes and prevent the spread of Zika virus in North Georgia.
Mosquitoes do not recognize property lines, so controlling their numbers has to be a collaborative effort among neighbors. Public health is increasing mosquito surveillance and educating residents, but the greatest impact will be when individuals take personal responsibility for their homes, yards and communities.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Dalton (GA) - Spring has sprung and residents should now spring into action to prepare for the potential weather hazards that often come with the season.
County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) officials want to reach all county residents any time emergency weather warnings must be issued. Therefore, as part of the local community preparedness activities of the annual FEMA America’s PrepareAthon! Campaign this year, Whitfield County EMA will conduct a PrepareAthon! Telethon on Wednesday, April 27 from 10 AM to 3 PM.
The telethon will focus on urging local residents to either register or update their existing contact information in the CodeRED© Mass Notification System so they will receive critical communications and timely severe weather notifications from public safety officials. County residents may call (706) 259-3730 or log onto http://www.whitfieldcountyga.com/ema/ema.htm.
WDEF News 12 will have live shots of telethon preparation early Wednesday morningon This Morning News, and North Georgia Radio Group’s Mixx 104.5 FM will feature the telethon on the air that day at 11:30 AM.
In addition to the telethon, there will be weather radio giveaways during a live remote on Mixx 104.5 FM on Thursday, April 28th from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Mack Gaston Community Center.
“It’s clear that the ability to receive timely, local weather warnings can be a crucial, life-saving measure,” said Amy Cooley of Whitfield County EMA. “There were 16,135 people who took part in our PrepareAthon! activities last year and they are now better prepared for disasters. We want all Whitfield County to be prepared so we encourage residents to help us beat that number this year.”
Between 1990 and 2014, Whitfield County experienced two tornadoes, 82 weather events involving high winds, nine floods, 14 flash floods, and 21 winter weather events that caused moderate to severe disruption and an estimated $6.5 million of property damage in the affected communities.
Whitfield County's PrepareAthon! is a campaign for action to increase community emergency preparedness and resilience through drills, group discussions, and exercises. The goal of Whitfield County's PrepareAthon! is simple: Build a more resilient community by increasing the number of individuals who understand which disasters could happen in their community, know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage, take action to increase their preparedness, and participate in community resilience planning.
We want to hear about your participation in Whitfield County's PrepareAthon!
You can register your participation in Whitfield County's PrepareAthon! as an individual or family, or on behalf of an organization, such as a workplace, school, or church by loging onto:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WhitfieldCountyPrepareAthonSpring2016
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Foundation Recognize Whaley with Childhood Immunization Champion Award
Dalton, GA –– Joy Bernice Whaley, MSN, APRN-WHNP (retired), a volunteer for the Whitfield County Health Department Children’s Access Clinic in Dalton, Georgia, has been named CDC Childhood Immunization Champion for her outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunization in Whitfield County. Whaley is recognized for over 40 years of devotion as a public health nurse, working primarily in women’s health and prenatal care. Even after retiring in 1999, Whaley began volunteering for the Whitfield County Health Department and is currently assisting in the department’s Children’s Access Clinic, reviewing immunization records and contacting families whose children are behind on vaccines. (Please click here for more information from the CDC.)
“I am very humbled and honored to have won this award because I know I didn’t get there by myself,” said Whaley. “I’ve been assisted by a wonderful team at the health department, who help me with the job I need to do. It’s just a joy every day I’m here!”
Each year during National Infant Immunization Week, CDC and the CDC Foundation honor health professionals and community leaders from around the country with the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion awards. These awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of those individuals who strive to ensure that children in their communities are fully immunized against 14 preventable diseases before the age of two.
“Ensuring that every child is vaccinated on schedule is critical to protecting our children, schools, and communities from outbreaks of serious diseases,” said Dr. Amanda Cohn, a pediatrician at CDC and the Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “We could not achieve our goal of protecting children without those committed individuals who promote immunizations at the state and local levels.”
CDC Childhood Immunization Champions were selected from a pool of health professionals, coalition members, community advocates, and other immunization leaders. State Immunization Programs coordinated the nomination process and submitted nominees to CDC. One winner was selected in each of the participating states and the District of Columbia. “Through the Childhood Immunization Champion awards, CDC and Georgia proudly acknowledge Bernice’s passion, hard work, and commitment to children’s health,” said Marie Smith, RN, BSN, Immunization and Child Health Coordinator for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Gayle Brannon, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager of the Whitfield County Health Department, said, “Mrs. Whaley is deserving of this recognition. Everyone at the Whitfield County Health Department appreciates her assistance in our work to promote the health of our community.”
For profiles of other CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award winners, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/champions.
About National Infant Immunization Week
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. Each year, during NIIW, communities across the U.S. celebrate the CDC Childhood Immunization Champions. These award recipients are being recognized for the important contributions they have made to public health through their work in childhood immunization.
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- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
National Infant Immunization Week is April 16 – April 23, 2016
North GA – Immunization is a shared responsibility. Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect our children when we vaccinate them, but can also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 16 – April 23, 2016, and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and county heath departments in north Georgia urge residents to speak with a health care provider or doctor to make sure their babies are up-to-date on vaccinations.
Parents, caregivers and health care providers are all critical in keeping our children protected. It’s easy to forget that one of the best ways to protect children is to make sure they have all their vaccinations. When we protect our children, we are also protecting ourselves. Families and friends should think of their infants and ensure they are also current on their vaccinations to protect the little ones.
NIIW is a call to action for parents, caregivers and health care providers to ensure that infants are fully vaccinated against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization is a shared responsibility.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
* Two doses given at least four weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time and for some other children in this age group.
§ Two doses of HepA vaccine are needed for lasting protection. The first dose of HepA vaccine should be given between 12 months and 23 months of age. The second dose should be given 6 to 18 months later. HepA vaccination may be given to any child 12 months and older to protect against HepA. Children and adolescents who did not receive the HepA vaccine and are at high-risk, should be vaccinated against HepA.
For those who are underinsured or whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them, there is the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. The VFC program helps children get their vaccines according to the recommended immunization schedule and has contributed directly to a substantial increase in childhood immunization coverage levels, making a significant contribution to the elimination of disparities in vaccination coverage among young children.
Vaccination is the best way to protect others you care about from vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to the CDC, the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in its history. Scientists, doctors and health care professionals give vaccines to children only after long and careful review. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for most children.
For more information on vaccinations, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.
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