North GA – A flu shot is the best way to protect against the flu, and *1325 north Georgians recently protected themselves quickly and conveniently at Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics held by Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield county health departments.

Conducted each fall in the North Georgia Health District since 2007, all six county Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics took place in October this year.

Residents drove in and remained in their vehicles to receive a quadrivalent flu shot that protects against four strains of flu. People 65 and older had the option to get a high dose flu shot, containing four times the protective antigen, which is needed as the immune system weakens with age.

The Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics also provide an opportunity for county health departments and partnering agencies to test local plans to rapidly administer vaccine or medication during a public health crisis. Participating community partners include local law enforcement, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), businesses and first responders such as the county Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Departments.

Beginning at this time of year through spring, influenza viruses circulate at higher levels in the U.S., so a well-timed flu shot reduces the chances of getting seasonal flu and spreading it to others. When more people are vaccinated, less flu spreads through communities.

In addition to a flu shot, other actions to prevent the spread of flu should include:

• Washing hands often with soap and warm water, if available – if not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub
• Covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then dispose of the tissue
• Avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth – germs spread this way
• Avoiding close contact with sick people
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu
• Staying home if experiencing flu-like symptoms – fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, fatigue or vomiting and/or diarrhea – remain home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone without the aid of medication to keep from infecting others

For more information about influenza, log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/flu.

To contact a county health department in the North Georgia Health District for a flu shot and other services, or to find the nearest health department location, click at the top of this page on the LOCATIONS tab.

* Of the 1325 residents vaccinated this year at the Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics in North Georgia, the county health 

   departments provided the following numbers of vaccine:

• • Cherokee County…….  172
  • Fannin County…………  150
  • Gilmer County…………  80
  • Murray County………..  180
  • Pickens County……….   93
  • Whitfield County…….   653

North Georgia – Immunizations are the best protection against vaccine-preventable diseases for everyone, of all ages; and, at the 26th Annual Immunize Georgia Conference on September 23, 2019, the Georgia Department of Public Health honored the Whitfield County Health Department’s Children’s Access Clinic and the North Georgia Health District with 2019 Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Awards due to excellence in providing immunization care.

The district was recognized for conducting a vigorously proactive hepatitis A vaccination and education campaign and for overall vaccine education, and the Whitfield County Health Department’s Children’s Access Clinic was awarded for going above and beyond the norm to ensure that all recommended vaccines for children and adults are readily available to the community.

Ashley Deverell, RN, BSN, district Immunization Coordinator, said, “Both awards recognize the ongoing work involved in educating patients on the importance of vaccines and protecting our communities. Our health district’s impressive hepatitis A response could not have been achieved without the support of everyone in the district. We are especially grateful for nurses and clerks directly involved in outreach to jails, substance abuse facilities and homeless shelters.”

For more information about the 2019 Walt Orenstein Champions for Immunization Awards and award recipients, go to http://www.immunizegeorgia.com/.

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Related article from Golin for the Georgia Department of Public Health:

County Health Departments Provide FREE Breast Exams!

North GA - Each October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated to recognize those fighting against breast cancer and to honor those who fought against the disease. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is crucial to remember the importance of early detection and regular breast exams to catch cancer while it can be treated.

Health Departments throughout the North Georgia Health District invite residents to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the following events in which health department staff will provide participants with services, education, and more!

Cherokee County Health Department:  FREE Breast Exams offered from 1 to 4 PM during Breast Health Day on Tuesday, October 15th at the Woodstock clinic (only) of the Cherokee County Health Department, 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188 – (770) 928-0133. Health department staff also plan Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Program (BCCP) outreach throughout October at the Woodstock Farmers Market, several Hispanic churches and grocery stores, various food pantries, and Goodwill. They will give away t-shirts provided by local sponsors while supplies last. (See image below of local sponsors)

Fannin County Health Department: Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Wednesday, October 30th. Offering FREE Breast Exams from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Fannin County Health Department at 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 – (706) 632-3023. Will also offer breast cancer prevention and detection education to participants, plus free Goodie Bags to participants.

Gilmer County Health Department: Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Thursday, October 24th. FREE Breast Exams will be offered from 8 AM to 3 PM at the Gilmer County Health Department at 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540 - (706) 635-4363.

Murray County Health Department: Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Wednesday, October 23rd. Offering FREE Breast Exams from 7:30 to 11:30 AM and from 1 to 3:30 PM at the Murray County Health Department at 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705 – (706) 695-4585. (See image below of proclamation signing)

Pickens County Health Department: Breast Cancer Awareness Clinic, Wednesday, October 30th. Will provide FREE clinical breast exams or mammogram referrals to the public from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Pickens County Health Department at 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143 – (706) 253-2821.

Whitfield County Health Department: Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Wednesday, October 23rd. Will provide FREE clinical breast exams to the public from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Whitfield County Health Department at 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720 – (706) 279-9600. Will also provide refreshments, goodie bags, and will enter participant names in a drawing for two gift baskets.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time to get a breast exam. Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer, so regular exams are important. The sooner breast cancer is found, the sooner treatment can begin.

Breast cancer causes the cells in the breast to grow out of control. Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers among American women, second only to skin cancer. Though much more common in women, both women and men can be affected by the disease. Each year, nearly 41,000 women and 450 men in the U.S. die from breast cancer.

While multiple factors contribute to a person’s risk of breast cancer, the main factor is age. Most instances of breast cancer are found in women over 50 years old. In addition to age, other risk factors include:

• A personal or family history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases
• Having menstrual periods before age 12, which leads to longer exposure to hormones
• Starting menopause after age 55, meaning a longer exposure to estrogen hormones
• Never going through a full-term pregnancy or having the first pregnancy after age 30 raises the risk
• Women who are overweight or obese after menopause have an increased risk
• Drinking, smoking and exposure to radiation or certain chemical may increase the risk of breast cancer

Risk factors like family history and age cannot be changed, but there are some steps a person can take to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Regular exercise and a healthy diet help to maintain a healthy weight which can lower a person’s risk. Limiting alcohol consumption, eliminating tobacco use and avoiding exposure to radiation and carcinogenic chemicals can decrease the risk. In addition, breastfeeding children can reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

To learn more about the health departments Breast and Cervical Cancer Program in North Georgia, including qualifications for free services, visit our Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) page. For more information on breast cancer, visit cdc.gov/cancer/breast.

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Below illustrate just SOME of our Breast Cancer Awareness Month events and activities mentioned above!

Cathy Dodd and Debbie Pearson of the Murray County Health Department witness Chatsworth Mayor Tyson Haynes signing the proclamation declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

 Call your nearest health department to ask questions or make an appointment!

Annual Recognition Day Honors this Essential Public Health Workforce

Dalton, GA – Today, the North Georgia Health District, along with health departments across the country, honors the eighth annual National Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Recognition Day. Celebrated each year on the first Friday of October, National DIS Recognition Day honors the DIS workforce that is the backbone of all STD and HIV health department programs.

DIS are public health warriors and play an imperative role in intervening to halt the transmission of STD, HIV and other communicable diseases in the communities they serve. They track disease spread, reach varied populations, and link patients to STD testing, treatment, PrEP and HIV care. This infographic helps explain the critical work of DIS in STD prevention and is an easy visual to show the hard boots-on-the-ground work done by DIS across the county.

DIS are a highly trained workforce, completing an extensive training course sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their skill set is essential to containing a number of disease outbreaks beyond STDs such as influenza, e-coli, zika, Ebola, and more.

According to Sherry Gregory, RN, BSN, district Infectious Disease Director, " The work they do involves
responsibility for investigating situations concerning individuals who have been in contact with communicable diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases, which could result in possible sources of infection. The work includes locating non-conforming patients of communicable diseases and persons with whom they have had contact. Investigation procedures involve contacting various information sources such as welfare agencies, neighbors, hospitals, work locations, restaurants and bars. The investigator is primarily concerned with locating persons who should be examined for acute infection of communicable diseases and making sure they are treated appropriately." 

This annual day of recognition is being celebrated across the country. To view more information about DIS and how other STD programs honored DIS in past years, please visit the DIS Recognition Page of the National Coalition of STD Directors. You can also join the conversation today on Social Media using #DISDay2019.