Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood with Cherokee County Health Department Manager Denise Bowman at left and Cherokee County Immunization Outreach Coordinator Nancy Stackhouse on rightDalton (GA) April 11, 2012 - Each year, thousands of children become ill from diseases that could have been prevented by basic childhood immunizations. Countless more miss time from day care and school because they are under-immunized or inappropriately immunized.

During the week of April 21-28, 2012 the North Georgia Health District and health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties will observe National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). NIIW is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of childhood immunizations. Each year during NIIW, state, regional and local public health officials highlight the importance of vaccinations for children under the age of two.

Most parents choose the safe, proven protection of vaccines. Giving babies the recommended immunizations by age two is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, like whooping cough and measles. Parents should talk to their child’s healthcare provider to ensure that their infant is up-to-date on immunizations.

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but they also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.

For more reasons to vaccinate, talk to your child’s healthcare provider, or go to the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines or call 1800-CDC-INFO. Please note these dates and times of National Infant Immunization Week events that will occur during NIIW at various health departments throughout the North Georgia Health District:

Cherokee County Health Department:
Date/Time: April 23 - 27Click image to download poster (pdf)

Places:
Canton Health Center 1219 Univeter Road Canton, GA 30115 770-345-7371		Woodstock Health Center 7545 North Main Street, Suite 100 Woodstock, GA 30188 770-928-0133

Activity: The Cherokee Country Health Department will provide packets about immunization, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs and Medicaid. These will be given to new parents and parents-to-be during NIIW. Vaccine importance will also be discussed during the day.

Also, Canton Mayor Gene Hobgood signed a proclamation declaring that week National Infant Immunization Week in Canton.


Fannin County Health Department:
Date/Time: April 23 - 27
Place:
Fannin County Health Department
95 Ouida Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706-632-3023
Activity: The Fannin County Health Department will administer vaccinations for children, including those required for school for kindergarten and 6th grade. The health department will provide children with goody bags and books. The importance of vaccines will be emphasized.


Gilmer County Health Department:
Date/Time: April 23 - 27
Place:
Gilmer County Health Department
28 Southside Church Street
Ellijay, GA 30403
706-635-4363
Activity: The Gilmer County Health Department will have a fiesta theme and will provide small goody bags for children who receive vaccinations that week.

Please call these health departments for more information and for hours of operation.