VACCINATION MAINTENANCE IS IMPORTANT FOR US ALL
North Georgia – August is a busy month: planning the last family vacation, back-to-school shopping, registering for classes, moving off to college and looking forward to family reunions and the holiday season. Recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds Georgians to stay up-to-date and get a head start on vaccinations required for school.“August is a great time of year to engage the community regarding vaccinations”, said Sheila Lovett, director of the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Office. “There is a lot of publicity about preparing kids for school. It’s the perfect reminder to make vaccinations a priority for both adults and students.”
In fact, county health departments throughout the North Georgia Health District have conducted back-to-school health clinics offering screenings and vaccinations to prepare children for school, and health departments in Cherokee (refer to clinic announcements under our NEWS tab), Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties continue to provide these services during normal business hours.
However, as important as it is for children to remain current on their vaccinations, adults should also maintain a vaccination schedule.
Every adult in Georgia (19 years and older) should follow the recommended immunization schedule by age and medical condition. Vaccinations protect you and they protect others around you; especially infants and those individuals who are unable to be immunized or who have weakened immune systems. It is always a good idea to have the adult vaccine schedule nearby as a reference and to make sure you are current on your own immunizations. Link here to the recommended adult immunization schedule.
Students born on or after January 1, 2002 and entering the seventh-grade need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster and adolescent meningococcal vaccinations. Every child in a Georgia school system (kindergarten – 12th grade), attending a child care facility, or a student of any age entering a Georgia school for the first time is required by law to have a Georgia Immunization Certificate, Form 3231. Below are the immunizations required for child care and school attendance:
- Diptheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Measles
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (or, PCV13 – up to age 5 years)
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Hepatitis A and B
- Hib disease (up to age 5 years)
- Varicella
- Meningococcal Conjugate
Vaccines protect families, teens and children by preventing disease. Not only do vaccinations help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and pneumococcal disease, but they also reduce absences both at school and at work and decrease the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.
This August, be smart and get immunized. The Georgia Department of Public Health reminds adults to check with their health care provider for their current immunization recommendations as well as parents to check for their children. Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect adults and children alike against potentially life-threatening diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, shingles, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox). Talk to your health care provider or visit your public health department and get immunized today.
For more information on immunization, contact the nearest county health department (phone numbers for county health departments in the North Georgia Health District are under the above LOCATIONS tab), or visit http://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section.