Georgia Coastal Health District

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There is good news for adults without insurance coverage for vaccinations – the health departments of the Coastal Health District are now offering adult vaccines at no cost for individuals without adequate insurance coverage.

Several vaccinations are recommended at different stages for adults, like immunizations against shingles, tetanus, whooping cough, measles and more. Health insurance covers most routine vaccinations, but adults without insurance must sometimes pay a fee.

“Vaccination saves lives, and we believe everyone in our community who wants to be vaccinated should have access to vaccines,” said Paige Lightsey, Immunization Director for the Coastal Health District. “Thanks to a federal grant, we can now offer no-cost vaccines for adults in every county of our health district.”

The no-cost vaccination program runs from May 1st through November 30th. To see if you qualify for a no-cost vaccine or to schedule an appointment for vaccination, please call your local county health department.

Each year in the US, as many as 50,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. Life-saving vaccines for adults include:

• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• MMR
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Shingles
• Tetanus
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Diphtheria

If you’re not sure which adult immunizations you may need, check with your health department, or visit our immunization webpage for information about recommended vaccines for adults

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Several counties in the Coastal Health District are offering special summer immunization and screening clinics to help families avoid the back to school rush. If you have a child entering:

• Pre-K,
• Kindergarten,
• 7th grade, or
• 11th grade,

they may need vaccinations or screenings for school attendance. If students do not have the required screenings and immunizations they can be unenrolled from school, so parents are encouraged to take advantage of these summer opportunities!

We are just beginning to add clinic dates – check back soon for updates!

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Effingham County Health Department

Back to School vaccination and screening events will be held BY APPOINTMENT in July at the Effingham County Health Department.

Springfield Clinic:

• July 23 & 25, by appointment
• 802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield
• Schedule by phone: (912) 754-6484

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Liberty County Health Department

Back to School vaccination and screening events will be held BY APPOINTMENT in June and July at the Liberty County Health Department.

Hinesville Clinic:

• June 13, July 18, July 25, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. by appointment
• 1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville
• Schedule online: https://coastalhealthdistrict.as.me/liberty-school
• Schedule by phone: (912) 876-2173

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Long County Health Department

Back to School vaccination and screening events will be held BY APPOINTMENT in June, July, and August at the Long County Health Department.

Ludowici Clinic:

• June 20, July 18, and August 22, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 5p.m. by appointment
• 584 N. Macon Street, Ludowici
• Schedule by phone: (912) 545-2107

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School Requirements

Students entering a Georgia school for the first time – no matter what the grade level –  must have a completed Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition screening form. “First time” means never enrolled in a Georgia school before at any time in their lives.

In addition, children attending seventh grade and new entrants into Georgia schools in grades 8 through 12 must have received one dose of Tdap vaccine and one dose of meningococcal vaccine. (“New entrant” means any child entering any school in Georgia for the first time or entering after having been absent from a Georgia school for more than 12 months or one school year).

All students entering or transferring into 11th grade will need a meningococcal booster shot (MCV4), unless their first dose was received on or after their 16th birthday.

All health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties offer eye, ear, dental, and nutrition screens as well as immunizations all year round. If your child needs these services and cannot attend one of these events, please call your local county health department as soon as possible to schedule an appointment during regular clinic hours.

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Health departments in the Coastal Health District will offer free, confidential STI screening events in April as part of STI Awareness Month. About 1 in 5 people in the US have a sexually transmitted infection. Left untreated, STIs can lead to serious health issues, affect fertility, and be passed along to partners. Many infections don’t cause any symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to get tested.

The good news is that all STIs can be treated, and most can be cured. Testing is the first step. STI testing is available at all health departments in the Coastal Health District throughout the year, but during the month of April, special screening events will offer the testing for free.

The sooner you get tested, the sooner you can take action to protect your health and the health of your partner. For more information about STI prevention, testing, and treatment, visit our STI Services page.

Free STI Testing Events in the Coastal Health District

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Eventos gratuitos de detección de ITS en abril

Los departamentos de salud del Coastal Health District ofrecerán eventos gratuitos y confidenciales de detección de ITS en abril como parte del Mes de Concientización sobre las ITS. Aproximadamente 1 de cada 5 personas en los EE. UU. tiene una infección de transmisión sexual. Si no se tratan, las ITS pueden provocar problemas de salud graves, afectar la fertilidad y transmitirse a la pareja. Muchas infecciones no causan ningún síntoma, por lo que la única forma de saberlo con seguridad es haciéndonos una prueba.

La buena noticia es que todas las ITS pueden tratarse y la mayoría curarse. La prueba es el primer paso. Las pruebas de ITS están disponibles en todos los departamentos de salud del Coastal Health Dustrict durante todo el año, pero durante el mes de abril, eventos especiales ofrecerán las pruebas de forma gratuita.

The following press release was issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated individual traveling with an international group of students. The individual, who does not live in the United States, is isolated and receiving treatment at a local hospital. DPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify and contact anyone who may have been exposed to the individual and to prevent further spread of measles.

Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can stay in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person is there so you can become infected by simply being in a room where an infected person once was. 

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out that usually starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. More than 95% of people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.

People with symptoms of measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately. DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health clinic without FIRST calling to let them know about your symptoms. Healthcare providers who suspect measles in a patient should notify public health immediately.

For more information about measles, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.

From the Georgia Department of Public Health

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging parents to make sure their children are up to date with their measles vaccinations. Measles vaccination is important for all children to prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission, but it is especially important for families with children planning to travel outside of the United States.

Among 58 measles cases reported in the U.S. so far in 2024, 54 (93%) were linked to international travel. Most cases reported this year have been among children over the age of 12 months who had not received MMR vaccine. In Georgia, there have been two reported cases of measles in 2024. The individuals were unvaccinated, from the same family, and had traveled outside of the country.

Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can stay in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person is there so you can become infected by simply being in a room where an infected person once was. 

Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine which is safe and highly effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles, one dose is 93% effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12-15 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years old. At least two weeks before traveling internationally, infants aged 6 to 11 months should have one dose of MMR vaccine and children aged 12 months and older should have two doses of MMR vaccine. Parents should consult with their child’s healthcare provider to ensure they are up to date with their MMR vaccines and any additional vaccines that may be needed.

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days (sometimes up to 21 days) after contact with the virus. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash of tiny, red spots that starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Individuals infected with measles are contagious from 4 days before the rash starts through 4 days afterward. Measles can cause serious complications, especially for babies and young children.

Individuals with symptoms of measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately. DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health clinic without FIRST calling to let them know about your symptoms. Healthcare providers who suspect measles in patients should notify public health immediately.

For more information about measles, log on to https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html. A list of countries with confirmed measles outbreaks can be found on the CDC website at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe.