Although Breast Cancer is leveling out in the United States, a closer look at the state of Georgia shows that breast cancer is still relatively higher than the U.S. rates and Georgia has an increased number of deaths from breast cancer. Given the number of breast cancer screening methods available (e.g., self-examination, clinical breast exam, mammogram, and breast ultrasound), more efforts are being done to provide access to care. Here at the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments (GNR Health), our trained providers screen for breast cancer and make sure you get the linkage to care you need. Just last year, the BCCS Program provided clinical breast exams and mammograms to over 2200 women!
Every October the GNR Health observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Our breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) is helping to ensure that women across our counties have access to regular screenings.
So throughout the month of October, show off your pink and tell the women in your life how important yearly screenings are to their health. For more information on the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program, call or visit one of our health centers.
Twenty-five states have reported more than 200 possible cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).
What is added by this report?
Based on available information, the disease is likely caused by an unknown chemical exposure; no single product or substance is conclusively linked to the disease.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Until a definitive cause is known, persons should consider not using e-cigarettes. Those who use e-cigarettes should seek medical attention for any health concerns. Clinicians should report possible cases to their local or state health department.
The month of August is about bringing awareness to immunizations, and the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments wants residents to think ahead and get vaccinations.
“This August, we urge parents to make an appointment to get
themselves and their families vaccinated.” Gloria Melvin, Immunizations
Coordinator, of Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments.
“Vaccinations are our best defense against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
August serves as a reminder that people of all ages require timely vaccinations to protect their health.
Each week of NIAM focuses on a different stage of the lifespan:
Pregnant women (August 5-11)
Babies and young children (August 12-18)
Preteens/Teens (August 19-25)
Adults (August 26-31)
Back to School (July/August)
Every adult in Georgia (19 years of age and older) should
follow the recommended immunization schedule by age and medical condition.
Vaccinations protect you and they protect others around you, especially infants
and those individuals who are unable to be immunized or who have weakened
immune systems. It is always a good idea to have the adult vaccine schedule
nearby as a reference and to make sure you are current on your immunizations.
This link is to the recommended adult immunization schedule:
Vaccines protect families, teens and children by preventing
disease. They help avoid expensive therapies and hospitalization needed to
treat infectious diseases like influenza and pneumococcal disease. Vaccinations
also reduce absences both at school and at work and decrease the spread of
illness in the home, workplace and community.
Before starting the 2020-2021 school year, all students
entering or transferring into 11th grade will need proof of a meningococcal
booster shot (MCV4), unless their first dose was received on or after their
16th birthday. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that
affects the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can cause shock, coma and
death within hours of the first symptoms. To help protect your children and
others from meningitis, Georgia law requires students be vaccinated against this
disease, unless the child has an exemption. 6
Some schools, colleges, and universities have policies
requiring vaccination against meningococcal disease as a condition of
enrollment. Students aged 21 years or younger should have documentation of
receipt of a dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine not more than five years
before enrollment. If the primary dose was administered before their 16th
birthday, a booster dose should be administered before enrollment in college.
“The focus of vaccinations often lies on young children, but
it’s just as important for teens, college students and adults to stay current
on their vaccinations.” said Shelia Lovett, Director of the Immunization
Program of the Georgia Department of Public Health.
For the 2019–20 U.S. influenza season, providers may choose
to administer any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine (IIV, recombinant
influenza vaccine [RIV], or LAIV4). LAIV4 is an option for those for whom it is
otherwise appropriate. No preference is expressed for any influenza vaccine
product.
This August, protect your family by getting vaccinated. The
Georgia Department of Public Health reminds adults to check with their
healthcare provider for their current vaccination recommendations, as well as
parents to check for their children. Safe and effective vaccines are available
to protect adults and children alike against potentially life-threatening
diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningococcal disease,
hepatitis A, hepatitis B, shingles, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
(chickenpox). So talk to your health care provider or visit your public health
department and get immunized today.
As temperatures rise, Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments remind residents to take extra precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses or deaths. The elderly, very young, and people with disabilities and chronic diseases are at higher risk for heat-related death or illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following tips for extreme heat exposure:
Know the signs for heat exhaustion: heavy sweating; paleness; muscle cramps; tiredness; weakness; dizziness; headache; nausea or vomiting; fainting; skin may be cool and moist; pulse rate fast and weak; breathing fast and shallow. Heat stroke: extremely high body temperature (above 103°F); red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating); rapid strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness and nausea. Should these symptoms occur after exposure to heat, seek medical attention.
Drink water, regardless of activity level. Do not wait until you are thirsty. Do not drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar – they can cause the loss of body fluids. Avoid very cold drinks-they can cause stomach cramps.
Stay indoors and, if possible, stay or go to an air-conditioned place. Malls, recreation centers, and senior centers (when open) can be good options.
Every year the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Health
Departments gears up for a back to school immunizations extravaganza. Employees
volunteer from the organization to help out with this busy time at the clinics.
The Health Department offers every vaccine listed on the
current vaccine schedule which you can view and download by visiting www.gnrhealth.com/child-immunization.
Every child entering into the Georgia school system (Kindergarten – 12th
grade), or a child care facility is required by law to be protected against 12
diseases. Students must have a Georgia Certificate of Immunization, Form 3231.
The Health Department will document all new immunizations on this form or can
transfer previous immunizations on the form for a small fee.
All students born on or after January 1, 2002 and entering,
advancing or transferring into 7th grade in Georgia needs proof of an
adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination (called “Tdap”) and
an adolescent meningococcal vaccination (“MCV4”). The HPV, chickenpox, and
influenza vaccines are also recommended for preteens and teens.
Did you know there was a month entirely dedicated to raising awareness for issues impacting the health and wellness of men and boys? June will honor the 23rd annual Men’s Health Month. The month also coincides with Men’s Health Week (June 10-16), a special awareness period created by Congress. See our easy list of things to do to be active, aware, all month long.
June is Men’s Health Month – spread the word and make sure every loved male in your life is living well.
Early screenings! They will not only save money in the long run but also save your life and/or make life easier to manage if diseases are caught early on.
Exercise, it’s summertime! Why do you think most TV shows and football are off? So men can finally go out and move around. (Note: there is no true correlation between summer broadcast schedule and reason to exercise) You shouldn’t need a reason to get at least 30 minutes of exercising in, just help your heart and just do it like Nike says.
Father’s Day is coming up! Why not give your father figure in your life the gift of knowledge along with your gift. There are many resources at www.menshealthnetwork.net that help educate you and your father about risks of prostate cancer and other diseases that may be prevalent to you.
Remember that anyone can assist in the men’s health movement, and help is not limited by gender basis. Anyone can be supportive and help men make that first step towards a better life. Everyone should be an ally!
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Each hepatitis virus affects the liver differently and has different routes of transmission, and has different populations that are commonly affected
CDC developed an online Hepatitis Risk Assessment to help people find out if they should get tested or vaccinated for viral hepatitis. The assessment, which takes only five minutes, will provide personalized testing and vaccination recommendations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection that can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. The hepatitis A virus is usually spread when a person ingests the virus from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or stool from an infected personHepatitis A is common in many parts of the world, and many new cases of hepatitis A in the United States have occurred from international travelers eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A can be easily prevented with a safe and effective vaccine, which is recommended for all children at one year of age and for adults who may be at risk.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis B virus. For some people, especially those infected as infants, the infection leads to a chronic or lifelong illness. The hepatitis B virus is spread primarily when blood, semen, or certain other body fluids from a person infected enters the body of someone who is not infected. The virus can be spread through sexual transmission and through contact with blood, such as sharing injection drug equipment. The hepatitis B virus can also be passed from an infected woman to her baby at birth, if her baby does not receive the hepatitis B vaccine. As a result the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants at birth and anyone else at increased risk.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis C virus. Most people who become infected with the virus go on to develop a chronic infection that causes serious liver problems. The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when blood from a person infected enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment to inject drugs. In fact, rates of new infections have been on the rise in young people who inject drugs in recent years. While rare, hepatitis C can be transmitted sexually, as well as from an infected women to her baby. . In the past, hepatitis C was spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. However, widespread screening of the blood supply began in 1990 and the hepatitis C virus was virtually eliminated from the blood supply by 1992.
People born from 1945-1965, or baby boomers, are five times more likely to have hepatitis C. Unfortunately, the reason that baby boomers have high rates of hepatitis C is not completely understood. Most baby boomers are believed to have become infected in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s when transmission of hepatitis C was the highest. CDC recommends anyone born from 1945-1965, as well as anyone else at risk, get tested for hepatitis C.
Beginning Monday, June 3, 2019, our hours of operation will change. We trust these changes will help us more efficiently serve you and your family when you visit our locations. Each location will be open late one night each week, and all locations will close at 3PM on Fridays.
This year, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County (GNR) Health Departments is extremely proud to announce our community partner, Sherwin Levinson, won the Mentor Award from the Medical Reserve Corps Program Recognition Awards. The Mentor Award honors Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) leaders that have successfully collaborated with other members of the MRC network over the past year to share practices, participate in activities, and carry out initiatives that have strengthened individual and collective groups of MRC units.
Sherwin Levinson is now in his 11th year as executive director of MRC Georgia East Metro (GEM), a unit that has over 600 trained and credentialed members. Under Levinson’s leadership, MRC GEM offers monthly training and educational opportunities to its members to encourage and maintain teamwork skills and preparedness and response capabilities. A highlight of the unit’s calendar is an annual weekend training and exercise that is held each June. Sharing best practices and encouraging reciprocal support.
Levinson is an active participant in the National Association of County and City Health Officials MRC work group, as well as the MRC radiation work group. He has collaborated in a number of efforts with the leaders of East Central Health District MRC in Augusta and DeKalb County MRC. Recently, Levinson assisted and supported Fulton County in re-activating its MRC unit, and he is currently actively involved in founding an Atlanta Metro Leaders MRC group. MRC GEM is always ready to assist the local community with routine or acute needs.
This year, the unit had a cadre of volunteers at the ready for the Super Bowl events which took place in Atlanta. In December, Levinson was recognized with the Gwinnett Chamber Healthcare Award in the category of Volunteer Service “for having made significant contributions to the community, while inspiring others.”
According to the Atlanta Jewish Times article, Levinson has made it his life’s mission to educate people on what to do in the event of an emergency in Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties. Most of MRC’s focus is on Gwinnett and its population 920,000 and in Newton and Rockdale Counties with a combined population of about 200,000. Levinson recognizes the diversity in culture, language, and demographics across these counties and works tirelessly to ensure that these needs are being addressed. To read more about Sherwin Levinson and the MRC GEM, visit the MRC GEM website.
