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North Georgia – The North Georgia Health District has received limited doses of monkeypox vaccine as part of the distribution of federally funded JYNNEOS^TM vaccine to public health districts throughout Georgia. These vaccines are available at no cost to the individual. However, due to a limited number of doses, the vaccines are available online by appointment only, depending on supply, and only for people who are currently eligible for the vaccine.

Eligibility is based on the CDC recommendation to prioritize people who are aged 18 and older and are at high risk of infection, including people who are:

• A contact to a monkeypox 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

If you meet the eligibility criteria for monkeypox vaccination, please register online at https://gta-vras.powerappsportals.us/en-US/ for an available
appointment at the nearest monkeypox vaccination site, which includes two locations in the North Georgia Health District:

• Cherokee County Health Department’s Woodstock Health Center, 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188
• Whitfield County Health Department, 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720

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

Allocations of monkeypox vaccine from the federal government will increase as production of the vaccine intensifies. Learn more about
JYNNEOS^TM vaccine at www.cdc.gov/smallpox/clinicians/vaccines.html

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has launched an online, centralized scheduling tool and helpline to locate and make appointments for monkeypox vaccine. To schedule a monkeypox vaccine visit dph.ga.gov/monkeypox and click on the Learn More tab under “Find a Vaccine and Register for an Appointment”. You may also call the Vaccine Scheduling Resource Line at (888) 457-0186.

The scheduling tool allows you to choose a first or second dose of Jynneos™ monkeypox vaccine from a dropdown menu. Because monkeypox vaccine supply remains limited, you will be asked to answer a series of questions that help DPH prioritize vaccine to individuals who may have been exposed to monkeypox. The questions follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for administering monkeypox vaccine.

The monkeypox scheduling tool simplifies finding vaccine and scheduling a monkeypox vaccination anywhere in the state by having all available appointments in one place instead of having to search individual health department websites. The availability of vaccines will be updated regularly to reflect the allocation of vaccine that Georgia receives from the federal government.

The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex. While more than 90% of those affected in the current global outbreak are gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox can be infected.

ATLANTA –The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to closely monitor the current outbreak of monkeypox in the state. As of today, there are 625 confirmed monkeypox cases in Georgia. Testing and vaccination are available in health districts throughout the state [click here for vaccine availability in the North Georgia Health District]; however, vaccine supplies from the federal government remain limited.

The monkeypox virus can spread from person-to-person through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also can be spread by respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact, such as kissing, cuddling, or sex. 

More than 90% of the 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.

Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads but has not been identified to be a common mode of transmission in this outbreak or for monkeypox in general.

The risk of contracting monkeypox is based on exposure – an individual must be exposed to enough virus to become infected. What is currently known about monkeypox transmission indicates that sharing bedding or towels with someone who is infected with monkeypox would carry more risk than passing encounters with money or a door handle or other environmental surfaces.

Most settings where people congregate such as workplaces, schools, grocery stores, gas station, or public transportation are not considered high risk settings for monkeypox transmission. It is important to remember that monkeypox is not transmitted like COVID and typically takes skin-to-skin or other close contact to transmit. Unlike COVID or measles, this means far lower risk to persons that may be in a room with someone with monkeypox, but who do not have contact with the infected individual. 

Your County Health Department is Your One-Stop Spot for all School Health Requirements!

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If the new school year hasn't already begun in your area, it will soon. Is your child fully ready to start a successful new year by meeting all *Georgia school health requirements? If not, it's not too late! You can safely, conveniently, and affordably get any or all of it done at a one-stop spot. Our county health departments in North Georgia provide school children with the required Hearing, Dental, Vision and BMI/Nutrition Screenings, and Immunizations.

The health departments charge a total of $60 for all the above screenings and $21.90 for each required immunization for children who are uninsured or underinsured - however, no one will be turned away for inability to pay. For those who have medical coverage, our health departments accept Medicaid (including Amerigroup, CareSource, Peachstate and WellCare) and health insurance plans such as Peachcare for Kids, HUMANA, AETNA, United Health Care, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Ambetter, CIGNA, Coventry, etc.

Vaccination recommendations for students attending school in Georgia, along with Form 3231, can be found at dph.georgia.gov/schoolvaccines.

Call YOUR county health department for an appointment today!

Here are the phone numbers and addresses for all six county health departments in the North Georgia Health District: