Sandra Deal Promotes Childhood Immunization Awareness in Canton

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Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal and Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), on Wednesday visited Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton as part of a statewide tour of Georgia hospitals to discuss the importance of childhood immunizations with new parents.

Deal and Dr. Fitzgerald made personal visits to two families, who had just delivered at Northside, offering each a free Hallmark immunization card to aid them in keeping their new baby’s immunization records organized. The pocket-sized card allows parents to keep their child’s immunization records in their wallet, where they are easily accessible during school or athletics registration, and doctor’s appointments.

“If you have this piece in your wallet, the nurse or you can write that down,” Deal said. “We want the child to be immunized properly and this little piece of paper helps with that.”

Suzanne Jones, manager for Northside Hospital-Cherokee Women’s Services, said that the First Lady’s initiative coincides perfectly with the hospital’s commitment to mothers and babies.

“Northside Hospital-Cherokee is on a mission to become a Baby Friendly® hospital,” said Jones.

Through DPH’s 5-STAR Hospital Initiative, birthing hospitals that establish policies, practices and environmental changes that support breastfeeding may achieve the national Baby Friendly® designation.

“Immunizations keep babies and the general population healthy,” Jones continued. “The colostrum in a mother’s milk often is considered baby’s first immunization.”

The First Lady’s tour is a part of the Georgia Children’s Cabinet’s campaign for Immunization Awareness month, which promotes protecting the health and safety of all Georgia Children.

For more information, visit children.georgia.gov.

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Photo 1: Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal offers her Hallmark immunization card to new parents Jennifer and Andrew Greeson, of Macedonia. The Greeson’s welcomed their second child, Callan, on July 22 at Northside Hospital-Cherokee.
Photo 2: Northside Hospital-Cherokee CEO Billy Hayes talks to the First Lady and Dr. Fitzgerald about the plans for the hospital’s replacement facility, coming in 2017. Pictured (l-r): Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal; DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D.; Donnie Henriques, community relations coordinator, Northside Hospital-Cherokee; Suzanne Jones, manager of Northside Hospital-Cherokee Women’s Services; Billy Hayes, CEO, Northside Hospital-Cherokee.
Photo 3: Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal and Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, visited with new parents Molly and Alex Hensley, of Woodstock, on their tour of Northside Hospital-Cherokee. The Hensley’s second child, Emmy Kate, was born on Tuesday, July 21.
Photo credits: Northside Hospital