Georgia Coastal Health District

Your best protection against the flu is now available in the Coastal Health District. The health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties are now offering the updated 2025-2026 flu vaccine. Supplies are limited in some locations as vaccine shipments continue to arrive, so call your local health department to confirm availability and schedule an appointment.

A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to prevent serious flu-related illness for everyone age 6 months and older. Vaccination is especially important for adults aged 65 and older, children younger than 2, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying conditions like asthma and chronic lung disease.

“Even if you’re strong and healthy, you should still consider vaccination to protect the people around you,” said Dr. Bonzo Reddick, Health Director of the Coastal Health District. “Flu can make anyone feel miserable. No one wants to be sick, especially as we move closer to holiday celebrations and family gatherings.”

The cost of flu vaccination is typically covered by insurance, and health departments accept many health insurance plans. There are low-cost vaccination options for individuals without health insurance coverage. Many health departments will offer special flu vaccination events later in the fall. Information about events will be added online throughout the season at coastalhealthdistrict.org/flu.

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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 may be unenrolled from school, so parents are encouraged to take advantage of these summer opportunities!

A list of all school clinic events is below. However, vaccines and school screenings are routinely available at all the health departments in the Coastal Health District by appointment. You do not have to wait until one of these events for screenings or immunizations.  Also, you do not have to be vaccinated in your county of residence. If a convenient appointment is not available in your county, you may call surrounding counties for additional availability.

Call your county health department for more information.

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Bryan County Health Department

Back to School vaccination and screening events will be held in July at the Bryan County Health Department. Appointments are required and vaccine is available while supplies last. Many insurance plans are accepted. Low cost options are available for individuals without health insurance.

If your child is transferring from another state, please bring their immunization records to the health department several days before their appointment. This gives staff an opportunity to transfer all the information into Georgia’s immunization registry prior to the health clinic event.

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Camden County Health Department

Back to School vaccination and screening events will be held on two dates in July at the Camden County Health Department. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted.

• July 7, 8 -10:30 am and 1-3:30 pm
• July 17, 8-10:30 am and 1-5:30 pm
• Appointments accepted but not required
• 101 Winding Road, Kingsland
• Schedule by phone: (912) 882-8515

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Chatham County Health Department

If your child is entering a Georgia school for the first time and needs an eye, ear, dental (EED) screening, the Chatham County Health Department is holding two free EED screening clinics this summer.

On these two days, you do NOT need an appointment for an EED and the usual $30 fee is waived.

• July 17 & 24, no appointment needed for EED, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• 1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah

For school vaccines, please call the health department at 912-356-2441 to schedule an appointment.

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Effingham County Health Department

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

• July 10, July 24, August 7, and August 14, 8:15-11:15 am and 1:15-6:15 pm by appointment
• 802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield
• Appointments required. Schedule by phone: (912) 754-6484

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Glynn County Health Department

Back to School vaccination and screening services are available as a walk-in service every day the clinic is open at the Glynn County Health Department. Walk-in hours are:

• Monday-Wednesday, 8am-4pm (closed 12-1)
• Thursday, 8am-6pm (closed 12-1)
• Friday, 8am-1pm
• Closed the last business day of every month for staff training
• No appointment needed

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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.

• June 26, July 17, July 24, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. by appointment
• 1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Hinesville
• Appointments required. 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.

• June 26, July 24, and August 21, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1 – 5:30 p.m. by appointment
• 584 N. Macon Street, Ludowici
• Appointments required. Schedule by phone: (912) 545-2107

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McIntosh County Health Department

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

• June 5 and July 24, 1 – 6 p.m. by appointment
• 1335 GA Highway 57, Townsend
• Appointments required. Schedule by phone: (912) 832-5473

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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.

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

The Georgia Department of Public Health Office of EMS and Trauma, in partnership with Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, is launching voluntary training for EMS personnel on how to identify potential victims of human trafficking. The EMS training is in conjunction with Human Trafficking Prevention Month and provides an opportunity to raise awareness and combat this heinous crime.

As first responders, EMS personnel often have unique opportunities to encounter and assist victims of human trafficking. Their critical role makes it essential to recognize the signs, respond appropriately, and navigate the legal aspects of human trafficking. This voluntary training program is designed to empower EMS providers with the skills, tools, and knowledge they need to identify potential trafficking victims, provide effective support, and take informed action.

“EMS personnel are often the only public safety or healthcare providers to give care to victims of human trafficking,” said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H. “This training offers EMS providers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of human trafficking, gain insight into relevant laws, and enhance their ability to support victims in their most vulnerable moments.”

EMS personnel can access the training at https://www.train.org/georgia/course/1126600/details.

In Georgia, more than 370 girls are trafficked each month. The average age of a human trafficking victim in Georgia is 14.8 years old. However, human trafficking affects all genders, all ages, and all social and economic groups.

“I want to thank both the team at DPH for their efforts in developing this training and all of our EMS personnel who do so much to promote the health of Georgians and help us fight human trafficking,” said Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp. “These brave first responders are in a critically important role, interacting with survivors in their most vulnerable moments. By knowing the signs and how to report them, they can go even further in their work to save lives.”

All Georgians are encouraged to take part in the First Lady’s Human Trafficking Awareness Training. The training is free and available online. 

To report suspected human trafficking in Georgia, call the Statewide 24-Hour Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-ENDHTGA (1-866-363-4842). If you have reason to believe that a victim is in imminent danger, call 911 or your local law enforcement agency to file a report. 

Working together, we can shine a light on human trafficking and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected.

Very cold weather is moving into the coastal Georgia area beginning Sunday, January 19, with temperatures dropping below freezing combined with a dangerous wind chill.

Remember the 4 “Ps” of winter weather safety during this cold snap.

• People: Ensure that everyone is dressed warmly before going outdoors. If you have family, friends, or neighbors who are especially vulnerable to cold weather, please check on them to be sure they’re warm and safe.
• Pets: Bring pets inside. If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them, too.
• Plants: Cover outdoor plants with cloth or bring them inside. Freezing temperatures can kill some plants.
• Pipes: Let your pipes drip. Having water move through the pipes will help prevent the water from freezing. A frozen pipe can burst causing property damage.

As loved ones gather around the table for Thanksgiving this week, the Coastal Health District offers tips and reminders for ensuring a safe and healthy holiday feast. From preparing food, to serving, to storing leftovers, there are important food safety rules that can prevent you from ingesting bacteria that can make you sick.

Avoid Cross-Contamination

• If turkey is on the menu, keep the raw turkey and its juices separate from foods that won’t be cooked.
• Remember to fully clean and sanitize surfaces that come in contact with the uncooked meat and juices so bacteria from the turkey doesn’t cross-contaminate other food or surfaces.
• Avoid touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands – this includes food you’ve already cooked, or food that doesn’t have to be cooked. Be sure to use serving utensils or gloves so you don’t unknowingly contaminate the food with germs from your hands.

Proper Temperature

• Whether you’re frying or roasting your turkey, the key is to make sure the meat reaches a safe minimum temperature.
• A food thermometer can help you ensure the turkey is hot enough to effectively kill bacteria. The turkey needs to reach a temperature of at least 165 degrees in the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.

Leftovers: The Two Hour Rule

• Once the food has been served, remember the two-hour rule. Perishable food should not sit at room temperature longer than two hours or harmful bacteria can develop. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours of serving.
• If you have leftover turkey, it’s a good idea to carve the bird into smaller pieces and place them into small, shallow containers so the meat can cool more evenly and quickly.
• When reheating the leftovers, only heat the amount you actually plan to eat at that time. For example, reheating an entire casserole dish and then cooling it back down multiple times isn’t a safe choice.
• Leftovers can be kept safely in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and the freezer for 2-6 months.