Time to Vaccinate Preteens and Teens – Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is March 12-16

Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is March 12-16
Vaccines available at health departments in North Georgia!
North GA – Think about it. Which seems better? The quick sting of a vaccination or the painful
consequences of a disease that last much longer?
In an effort to protect every adult and child, the Georgia Department of Public Health
established Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week, observed March 12-16, 2018, to
serve as a reminder for parents to talk with their preteens and teens about getting immunized
against vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines for preteens and teens are available at public
health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties.
“Often, parents don’t realize that the health of a preteen or teen is still a priority, and though
adolescents may become aware of their health and the need for vaccinations, many don’t take
it seriously enough to pursue going to their doctor or local health department,” said Ashley
Ridley, RN, BSHA, Immunizations Coordinator for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the
Georgia Department of Public Health. “It’s up to parents to make it a priority to have their
preteen or teen vaccinated against preventable diseases.”
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health Rule (511-2-2), all students who were
born on or after January 1, 2002, are entering or transferring into seventh grade or are “new
entrants” into eight through 12th grades in Georgia need proof of an adolescent pertussis
(whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) AND an adolescent meningococcal
vaccination (MenACWY). This law affects all public and private schools, including, but not
limited to, charter schools, community schools, juvenile court schools and other alternative
school settings (excluding homeschool).
Vaccines are the best defense we have against serious, preventable and sometimes deadly
contagious diseases. They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to treat
infectious diseases like influenza and meningitis. Immunizations also reduce absences both at
school and after school activities and decrease the spread of illness at home, school and the
community.
The CDC currently recommends the following vaccines for preteens and teens:
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
• Influenza (flu)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Meningococcal Disease (MenACWY)

Time to Vaccinate Preteens and Teens – Georgia Preteen Vaccine
Awareness Week is March 12-16
Press Release – continued

NORTH GEORGIA HEALTH DISTRICT 1-2

Cherokee: Canton (770) 345-7371 / Woodstock (770) 928-0133 Gilmer (706) 635-4363 Pickens (706) 253-2821

Fannin (706) 632-3023 Murray (706) 695-4585 Whitfield (706) 226-2621

Georgia Preteen Vaccine Awareness Week is an opportunity to raise awareness through
schools, health care providers and the media regarding preteen immunizations, particularly
Georgia’s pertussis and meningococcal requirements for incoming seventh-grade students. To
find out if a preteen or teen is up-to-date on all vaccinations, see a physician or contact the
nearest county health department in North Georgia at:
Cherokee County Health Department: 1219 Univeter Road, Canton, GA 30115, (770) 345-
7371 and 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188, (770) 928-0133
Fannin County Health Department: 95 Ouida Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513, (706) 632-3023
Gilmer County Health Department: 28 Southside Church Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, (706)
635-4363
Murray County Health Department: 709 Old Dalton-Ellijay Road, Chatsworth, GA 30705,
(706) 695-4585
Pickens County Health Department: 60 Health Way, Jasper, GA 30143, (706) 253-2821
Whitfield County Health Department: 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720,
(706) 226-2621
For more information, click here to the immunization section on the Georgia Department of
Public Health website.