Georgia Coastal Health District

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The Coastal Health District HIV Prevention Program, in partnership with Walgreens, will hold free HIV testing events on Thursday, June 27, to commemorate National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). This year’s NHTD events will be held at these Walgreens locations in Chatham and Glynn counties:

• 2109 E. Victory Drive, Savannah, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• 11509 Abercorn Street, Savannah 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• 700 E. DeRenne Ave., Savannah 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• 4210 Augusta Road, Garden City 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• 4575 Altama Avenue, Brunswick 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The first 25 people to be tested at each location will receive a $25 gift card. All testing is free and confidential, and results will be available in about one minute.

Georgia has some of the highest HIV rates in the country, and many people living with HIV may not be aware of their status. There are many effective ways to prevent HIV or, if you are infected, to treat HIV so you can live a healthy and full life. But the first step is to know your status.

The theme for NHTD 2024 is “Level up your self-love: check your status.” This theme emphasizes valuing yourself, showing yourself compassion and respect, and honoring your health needs with self-love. Knowing your HIV status helps you choose options to stay healthy and keep your partners healthy.

As a reminder, HIV testing is always free by appointment at all health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties. Free self-test kits are also available and can be used at home. Click here for more information about Coastal Health District HIV services.

The Georgia Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program is a federally-funded program that provides WIC recipients with fresh, locally grown, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and edible herbs. 

WIC farmers markets are held each year during the farmers market season. If you’re a WIC participant, visit one of these farmers market events for NO COST fresh fruits and vegetables. Arrive early – produce is limited. The events are from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. but may close early once the produce is gone.

For more information on the Georgia WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, please visit dph.ga.gov/farmers-market. 

Click here [PDF, 485.47 KB] for a downloadable flyer with these dates and locations.

–> Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español

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. This offer is only available on in-stock vaccines while supplies last.

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 on in-stock vaccines while supplies last. 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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Desplácese hacia abajo para obtener información en español.

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

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.

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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.