NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT

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    NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

MPOX (MONKEYPOX)

Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
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Category: Press Room

 

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MPOX VACCINE AND TESTING ARE AVAILABLE IN NORTH GEORGIA

Ver opción en Español en la parte superior de esta página

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
  • HIV positive and have multiple sex partners
  • A man who has sex with men (MSM) and having multiple sex partners
  • 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

Appointments for Mpox Vaccination

 

You may also call the Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line at (888) 457-0186.Monkeypox_Vaccine.png

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.

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UPDATE: Fannin County Health Dept Now OPEN after Power Outage

Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
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Category: Press Room

 

***UPDATE: The Fannin County Health Department reopened today, Thursday, July 28th - Thank you for your patience!***

Closed Due to Power Outage banner

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.

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You Should Get Tested & Vaccinated for HEPATITIS B!

Written by: North Georgia Health District - Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Category: Press Room

Hepatitis B graphic for web

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.

Para la traducción al Español de esta información, haga clic en la opción en Español en la parte superior de esta página

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can all cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common hepatitis viruses are hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus.

What is the difference between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C?

Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are liver infections caused by three different viruses. Although each can cause similar symptoms, they are spread in different ways and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also begin as short-term infections but in some people, the virus remains in the body and causes chronic, or lifelong, infection. There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B; however, no vaccine is available for hepatitis C.

The page “What is viral hepatitis?” explains in detail the differences between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B Flyer EngClick to Download/Print Hep B Flyer in English
Hepatitis B Flyer SpHaga Clic para Descargar/Imprimir la Página de Promoción de la Hepatitis B en Español

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people with hepatitis B are sick for only a few weeks (known as “acute” infection), but for others, the disease progresses to a serious, lifelong illness known as chronic hepatitis B.

What is acute (short-term) hepatitis B?

Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Some people with acute hepatitis B have no symptoms at all or only mild illness. For others, acute hepatitis B causes a more severe illness that requires hospitalization.

What is chronic (long-term) hepatitis B?

Some people, especially those who get infected in adulthood, are able to clear the virus from their bodies without treatment. For other people, acute hepatitis B leads to life-long infection known as chronic hepatitis B. Over time, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

Who is most likely to get chronic (long-term) hepatitis B?

Age plays a role in whether hepatitis B will become chronic. The younger a person is when infected with the hepatitis B virus, the greater the chance of developing chronic infection. About 9 in 10 infants who become infected go on to develop life-long, chronic infection. The risk goes down as a child gets older. About one in three children who get infected before age 6 will develop chronic hepatitis B. By contrast, almost all older children (those aged ≥6) and adults infected with the hepatitis B virus recover completely and do not develop chronic infection.

How common is hepatitis B in the United States?

In 2018, a total of 3,322 cases of acute (short-term) hepatitis B were reported to CDC. Since many people may not have symptoms or don’t know they are infected, their illness is often not diagnosed so it can’t be reported or counted. CDC estimates the actual number of acute hepatitis B cases was closer to 21,600 in 2018. Many more people (about 862,000) are estimated to be living with chronic, long-term hepatitis B.

How common is hepatitis B around the world?

An estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B worldwide.

Hepatitis B Transmission

How is hepatitis B spread?

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected or has not been vaccinated. People can become infected with the virus from:

  • Birth (spread from a mother who has hepatitis B to her baby during birth)
  • Sex with a partner who has hepatitis B
  • Sharing needles, syringes, or drug preparation equipment
  • Sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors, or medical equipment (like a glucose monitor) with a person who has hepatitis B
  • Direct contact with the blood or open sores of a person who has hepatitis B
  • Exposure to the blood from a person who has hepatitis B through needlesticks or other sharp instruments

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Monkeypox Vaccine Availability in Georgia

Written by: Georgia Department of Public Health
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Category: Press Room
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                               
July 15, 2022
 
                                                                                      

Monkeypox Vaccine Availability in Georgia 

 
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has begun receiving limited doses of monkeypox vaccine. To date, Georgia has received approximately 3,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine – enough for 1,500 individuals since this is a two-dose vaccine series. The vaccine has been distributed upon request to health departments and for vaccination events in two counties. Allocations of monkeypox vaccine from the federal government will increase as production of the vaccine ramps up.

 

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.

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We’re CLOSED on July 4th, but COVID-19 Testing is OPEN

Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
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Category: Press Room

Closed for July 4 2022


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.

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