- Written by Jennifer King
- Category: Media Releases
Dalton (GA) - The Whitfield County Health Department is encouraging parents to get vaccines and health screenings needed for their children this month to beat the back-to-school rush! These services are offered on a walk-in basis, no appointment necessary, at the Whitfield County Health Department.
Children enrolling in any Georgia school, Pre-K, Kindergarten, or Child Care program must present a Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231). In addition, children enrolling in Pre-K, Kindergarten and any Georgia school must present Form 3300 (Certificate of Eye, Ear, and Dental Exam).
The health department’s Children’s Clinic Supervisor Angie Callaway, RN, BSN, stated, “The vaccine requirements differ depending on the age of the child. It is very important to check now to determine if your child needs vaccines and/or a certificate for school or child care entry.”
For example, children under five (5) who attend child care facilities (including Pre-K) must have two (2) doses of Hepatitis A (Hep A) vaccine or laboratory proof of immunity. All children entering sixth grade must have two doses of Measles vaccine, two doses of Mumps vaccine, and one dose of Rubella vaccine or laboratory proof of immunity against Measles, Mumps and Rubella and have two doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or provider diagnosed documentation of disease or laboratory proof of immunity.
Contact the Whitfield County Health Department at 706-226-2621 or your health care provider to obtain needed vaccinations, health screenings and required certificates.
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- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator
- Category: Public Service Announcements
Click poster to enlargePrepare your child for the upcoming school year! The Cherokee County Health Department will conduct a Back To School Health Clinic from 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30 at both public health centers in Canton and Woodstock. Hearing, Dental and Vision Screenings will be offered for $30.00, and Immunizations will be provided for School-age Children (there is a charge for vaccines). Medicaid is accepted. Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services will have a Fire Engine and Booster Seat Distribution Booth at both locations! The Canton public health center is located at 1219 Univeter Road, and the Woodstock public health center is at 7545 N. Main Street. For more information, please call (770) 345-7371 in Canton, or call (770) 928-0133 in Woodstock.
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- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer
- Category: Public Service Announcements
click poster to enlarge/DownloadGet your child’s car seat checked for FREE at the Murray County Health Department ON TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013 FROM 8 AM TO 4 PM. THE MURRAY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT is located at 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road in Chatsworth.
Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be on hand to check child car seats and child restraint installations to make sure they are properly installed.
Buckling up your child the right way for every ride is the most important thing you can do to keep your child safe in the car, so join us for this free child car seat check event!
Call for more information at (706) 695-4585 or log onto www.safekidsgeorgia.org.
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- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer and Risk Communicator
- Category: Media Releases
Ellijay (GA) – On June 24, a dog at a Gilmer County farm on Anderson Creek Road, located off Roy Road, fought with a raccoon that has now tested positive for rabies.
The dog was treated for multiple wounds to the face and head sustained during the fight, and the owner was referred to a physician to be evaluated for treatment because he had touched the dog’s wounds where saliva from the raccoon may have been present.
According to Gilmer County Environmental Health Manager Andrea Martin, the dog’s owner had been unable to break up the fight between the animals, so he shot the raccoon and took it to the VCA Appalachian Animal Hospital in East Ellijay. VCA prepared the raccoon for rabies testing and Martin shipped the specimen to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on June 25. The lab reported the positive results for rabies on June 26.
Martin was pleased to announce that the dog was current on its rabies vaccination, which alleviates concerns about rabies infection in the animal.
“Since the dog's vaccination was current, the only recommendation we had to give was a booster shot and a 45-day observation period,” said Martin. “This is a much better outcome than when we’ve had to recommend either euthanasia or a strict, costly six-month quarantine because a rabies-exposed pet was not vaccinated.”
Stock photo
It is vital that rabies vaccinations are regularly maintained in pets, not only for the safety of pets, but also for the protection of people who may handle them. Health officials recommend that pets receive the first rabies vaccination at 3-months old then another shot one year later. In subsequent years, owners have the option to provide pets with one-year or three-year rabies shots.
For more information about rabies, please contact Gilmer County Environmental Health at (706) 635-6050 or log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.
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