South Health District

VALDOSTA – Before starting the 2021-2022 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. It is spread […]

Effective July 1, 2021, children 16 years of age and older, who are entering the 11th grade (including new entrants), must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness that affects the brain […]

FITZGERALD – The Ben Hill County Health Department will host a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination event on March 23. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.at the health department, located at 251 Appomattox Rd. in Fitzgerald. Only certain groups qualify for COVID-19 vaccination at this time: Healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, EMS personnel, […]

National Nutrition Month recognized in March Developing a healthful eating pattern is not a one-size-fits all endeavor. The key is tailoring your favorite foods to meet your individual nutrient needs. This March, the Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District joins the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to recognize National Nutrition Month and focus […]

Wait Times Will Increase After March 8 Vaccine Expansion Governor Brian Kemp announced February 25 that COVID-19 vaccination eligibility will expand March 8 to include educators and staff (Pre-K, K-12, DECAL licensed or exempt childcare programs), adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers, and parents of children with complex medical conditions. South Health […]

Second Dose Appointments are Current Priority Valdosta – Due to a limited supply of COVID vaccine, Lowndes County Health Department will start contacting individuals January 21 to cancel appointments for those who have not yet received their first vaccination in the health department or drive thru. Berrien County Health Department will start contacting individuals January […]

Thank you to everyone who has registered for vaccine appointment callbacks so far. Our health department staff are hard at work calling everyone who has signed up. We received more than 2,000 registrants in the first four days, so we ask that you please be patient with our staff as they work through these lists. […]

        VALDOSTA – South Health District is currently experiencing the most significant increase in COVID-19 cases that the district has seen since the pandemic began.           The positivity rate across the district has increased to 15-27% in the last two weeks. An increase of up to 10 percent from earlier this month and double […]

Testing availability may be limited during vaccine rollout VALDOSTA – As COVID-19 vaccine begins being given in our communities, the Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District staff will be focusing their efforts on distributing vaccines as quickly as possible.         With the focus of public health shifting to vaccine distribution, this will mean limited […]

VALDOSTA – Lowndes County continues to experience a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. This increase first began in October and has not slowed since that time. Tift County is also experiencing a significant increase in COVID-19 cases. The total count of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Lowndes is 5,350. This is an increase of 760 cases […]