- Details
- Written by: Georgia Department of Public Health
- Category: Press Room
ATLANTA – Flu activity is widespread and severe in Georgia, and cases are likely to increase following the holidays and as Georgians return to work and school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also projects a severe flu season. If you have not gotten a flu shot yet and have no medical conditions preventing you from doing so, the Department of Public Health strongly urges you to take advantage of the health benefits the flu vaccine provides as soon as possible.
The CDC recommends that individuals over the age of six months receive a once-yearly flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, including the elderly and immunocompromised. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so now is the time to get a flu shot. Even if you get the flu, the vaccine can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and, in extreme cases, death. You may consult with a healthcare professional (such as a licensed medical doctor, nurse, or other practitioner) if you have questions about the flu shot.
The flu vaccine is widely available at public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics, and pharmacies.
Flu symptoms and their severity can vary from person to person and may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.
In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend antiviral drugs to treat the flu. Antiviral drugs are prescription medications and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptom onset.
There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:
- Hits: 446
- Details
- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
We wish you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, and HAPPY 2026!
All our Public Health departments, offices, programs, and services are closed today in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties, but we look forward to serving you tomorrow!
Learn all about us at www.nghd.org
---En Español:
¡Les deseamos a usted y a sus seres queridos un 2026 seguro, saludable y FELIZ!
Todos nuestros departamentos, oficinas, programas y servicios de Salud Pública estarán cerrados hoy en los condados de Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens y Whitfield, pero esperamos poder servirle mañana.
Conozca más sobre nosotros en www.nghd.org
- Hits: 293
- Details
- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
All public health offices, departments, programs, and services in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield counties will be 𝑪𝑳𝑶𝑺𝑬𝑫 for Christmas on
Thurs., Dec. 25 – Fri., Dec. 26.
We will 𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑼𝑴𝑬 𝑵𝑶𝑹𝑴𝑨𝑳 𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑺 on Mon., Dec. 29.
Have a Healthy, Merry Christmas!
Find our services here on our home page at www.nghd.org
---En Español:
𝑪𝑰𝑬𝑹𝑹𝑬 𝑷𝑶𝑹 𝑭𝑰𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑺 𝑫𝑬 𝑵𝑨𝑽𝑰𝑫𝑨𝑫
Todas las oficinas, departamentos, programas y servicios de salud pública en los condados de Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens y Whitfield estarán 𝑪𝑬𝑹𝑹𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑺 por Navidad el jueves 25 de diciembre – viernes 26 de diciembre.
𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑵𝑼𝑫𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑺 𝑯𝑶𝑹𝑨𝑹𝑰𝑶𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑹𝑴𝑨𝑳𝑬𝑺 el lunes 29 de diciembre.
¡Les deseamos una Navidad saludable y feliz!
Visítenos en www.nghd.org
- Hits: 370
- Details
- Written by: Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Press Room
Jasper, GA – Beginning Monday, December 15, 2025, the Pickens County Health Department, located at 60 Health Way in Jasper, Georgia, will be closed until further notice due to a mold issue identified in the building that requires professional remediation. Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure a safe environment for both clients and staff, we must temporarily suspend on-site operations during the cleanup process.
However, during the closure, our Pickens staff will continue serving clients by working from the North Georgia Health District’s adjacent health departments in Gilmer and Cherokee counties, ensuring continuity of care. Residents seeking public health services in Pickens should call the health department number at (706) 253-2821 to be routed to the health district’s call center for an appointment in Gilmer or Cherokee County. Current WIC clients will be contacted about their appointments. Residents needing to apply for WIC may call (706) 370-4700.
We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we complete the remediation process. Updates will be shared as soon as they are available here on the North Georgia Health District website.
- Hits: 703
- Whitfield County Health Department REOPENS Thursday, Dec. 4th!
- Whitfield County Health Department CLOSED Wed., Dec. 3rd
- 11th Annual “Express Your SuperPower” 5K/10K Celebrated Strength, Community, and the Power of Giving!
- Closed for Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11th
- Seven Safety Tips for a Happy, Healthy Halloween!
- North Georgians Fueled Their Immunity at Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinics
- WE'RE CLOSED MONDAY, OCT. 13, FOR THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY
- WIC is Still HERE for You!
- Murray County Health Department Closed Thurs., 10/2, and Fri., 10/3
- Celebrating Excellence: Wendy Scoggins Named Environmental Health All-Star for District 1-2