District 2 Public Health is urging parents with children in school to update their children’s immunization prior to returning to school in the fall, in adherence to the Georgia Back to School Requirements.
“Immunizations play a critical role in safeguarding public health, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, and protecting vulnerable individuals within our communities,” the department said. “The Georgia Back to School requirements aim to ensure that students are adequately protected against vaccine-preventable illnesses, maintaining a secure educational environment for all.”
The department emphasized the Georgia Back to School requirements outline specific vaccinations that students must receive based on their age and grade level. The diseases that require immunization are as follows:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP/Tdap): protects against serious respiratory infections
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR): prevents highly contagious viral diseases
- Polio (IPV/OPV): guards against poliovirus infection
- Hepatitis B (HepB): protects against liver disease
- Varicella (chickenpox): protects against the varicella-zoster virus
- Meningococcal conjugate (MCV4/MPSV4): guards against bacterial meningitis
- Human papillomavirus (HPV): prevents certain types of cancer and other diseases
District 2 Public Health recommended that the public facilitate the vaccination process by contacting their healthcare providers, local clinics and public health departments to schedule appointments or inquire about vaccination clinics. There are also vaccination programs in place to provide affordable or free vaccines to eligible individuals who meet specific criteria.
All Health Departments will be providing services to give back-to-school-vaccinations at their department centers during regular business hours and in other public spaces. A list of dates and locations the services will be available are as follows:
Banks County
July 27: 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at Banks County Middle School.
July 28: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Banks County Primary School.
July 31, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. at Banks County High School.
Dawson County
July 18 and July 27: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Dawson County Health Department.
Forsyth County
July 15 and July 29: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Forsyth Health Department.
Hall County
July 2: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Hall County Health Department.
White County
August 12 and August 26: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the White County Health Department.
Lumpkin County
July 29: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Lumpkin County Health Department.
Hart, Towns, Rabun, Stephens, Habersham and Union counties will all have the services available during regular department hours, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
“Back-to-school lines are vital in ensuring that we minimize the risk of outbreaks and maintain a healthy learning environment for everyone,” Leyna Mashburn, District 2 Public Health Immunization Coordinator, said.
To learn more about Georgia Back to School requirements, click here.
