North GA – It’s that time of year again, north Georgians — flu season. As family and friends gather for the holidays, flu activity is increasing. Anyone still unvaccinated should get a flu vaccination right away.

December 1-7, 2019 is this year’s National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIIW) in which health officials highlight the importance of being vaccinated against the flu during the holiday season and beyond. This week serves as a reminder that anyone who can be vaccinated should do so to protect as many people as possible against flu. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccination every season.

Since this past August, public health staff in the North Georgia Health District have given over 7,440 flu vaccinations, and doses are still available at public health departments in these North Georgia counties:

Cherokee County: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133

Fannin County: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023

Gilmer County: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706) 635-4363

Murray County: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705, (706) 695-4585

Pickens County: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821

Whitfield County: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720, (706) 279-9600

Flu vaccine is no cost at county health departments in North Georgia for anyone under an acceptable health insurance plan such as Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others. For those without insurance coverage, the cost is still relatively low. The regular flu shot is $25 and the high-dose flu shot recommended for people ages 65 and older is $65.

There are many reasons to get a flu vaccination.

Flu vaccine can reduce a person’s risk of flu illness, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu. Even if a vaccinated person still gets sick, flu vaccine can reduce the severity of the illness.

Flu vaccine also helps protect women during and after pregnancy and protects the baby born to a vaccinated mom for several months after birth.

Flu vaccine has saved children’s lives, prevented serious events associated with chronic lung disease, diabetes and heart disease, and prevented flu-related hospitalization among working age adults and older adults.

Getting vaccinated is not just about keeping healthy. It is also about not spreading the virus, protecting others in the community who may be vulnerable to becoming very sick, such as babies, older adults and pregnant women.

For more information on influenza vaccination and immunization, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website at http://dph.georgia.gov/influenza-what-you-need-know.

"Walk-Ins" are Welcome for FREE HIV Testing!

North GA – FREE HIV Testing will be offered on Monday, December 2nd at county health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties and at The Living Bridge Centers in Canton and Dalton. Walk-ins are welcome!

The free HIV testing is in honor of World AIDS Day, which was first observed in 1988 and is held annually on December 1st. Each year, organizations and individuals across the world bring attention to the HIV epidemic, endeavor to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speak out against HIV stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward ending the HIV epidemic.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which can cause AIDS (autoimmune deficiency syndrome). About 1 in 7 people in the United States who have HIV don’t know it. The only way anyone can know for sure is to get tested; therefore, the CDC recommends that everyone between ages 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of their routine healthcare.

People at higher risk should get tested more often, such as men who have sex with men, anyone who has had sex with an HIV-positive partner, and injection drug abusers. Learn more about who is at higher risk for HIV and about HIV testing recommendations at www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html.

 Know your status! Get HIV tested for FREE by public health in North Georgia on Monday, December 2nd. For county health department locations and phone numbers, click on the above LOCATIONS tab. For The Living Bridge Centers information, click here to the TLBC page.