Page 8 - Wednesday, October 11, 2023
The Jenkins County Times
j enkinsc ountytimes .com
How to Help Keep Your Child
Safe and Healthy at School
American Medical
Association President
Jesse M. Ehrenfeld,
M.D., and his son
Ethan.
Special
for
t in Times
According to doctors, there is no better time than now to ensure that children are up to
date with their vaccinations.
“The evidence around vaccinations is abundantly clear; they’re safe, effective and will
help protect you, your loved ones and your community from preventable diseases. If you
have questions about vaccines, their safety, or effectiveness, please speak to your physician.
We are here for you, eager to answer your questions, and ensure your family is protected,”
says Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H., president of the American Medical Association
(AMA).
In an effort to promote a safer, healthier communities for everyone, the AMA is sharing
these vaccine facts and insights:
• Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. Routine childhood immunization is highly
effective at preventing disease over a lifetime, reducing the incidence of all targeted diseases,
including measles, mumps, rubella, polio and chickenpox. For the U.S. population in 2019,
vaccines prevented more than 24 million cases of disease.
• The benefits of vaccines can be quantified. According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), vaccination of children bom between 1994 and 2021 will prevent
472 million illnesses, almost 30 million hospitalizations and more than 1 million deaths,
saving nearly $2.2 trillion in total societal costs, including $479 billion in direct costs.
• Vaccination rates have fallen. Even before the rise in vaccine misinformation and
disinformation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy was increasing,
elevating the risk of community outbreaks, which put under-and unvaccinated children at
risk for serious illnesses, like measles. According to a mid-January 2023 report from the
CDC, vaccination coverage decreased in most states for all vaccines among kindergarteners
for the 2021-22 school year when compared with the previous school year, which was
already below pre-pandemic levels.
• Speak to your child’s physician. With increased misinformation around vaccinations, it
is critical that you seek out reliable, evidence-based sources for information. These sources
may begin with websites like getvaccineanswers.org, but they should also include your
child’s physician.
Physicians can also answer questions on the new monoclonal antibody therapy, nirsevimab,
available for infants and children under the age of 19 months, for the prevention of RSV
disease.
• Don’t let cost be a barrier. Programs like Vaccines for Children (VFC) are federally
funded to provide no-cost vaccinations to children whose families otherwise could not
afford them. Parents can leam more by contacting their state or local health department.
“Make an annual well-child visit and immunizations a part of your household’s routine,”
says Dr. Ehrenfeld. “Doing so will protect you and your family from several preventable
illnesses. It’s something I do for my own children, and I urge you to do so, too.”
Georgia Department of Labor
Unveils Plan to Modernize
Unemployment Compensation
By Joe Brady, Editor
for
The Times
The Georgia Department of
Labor, led by State Commissioner
of Labor Bruce Thompson,
has unveiled an ambitious
plan to modernize the state's
unemployment compensation
system. Despite processing
a staggering 5.4 million
unemployment claims during the
pandemic, the third highest in the
nation, and disbursing over $23.6
billion in benefits, the department's
need for an overhaul existed long
before the COVID-19 crisis.
Commissioner Thompson, a
Republican former state senator,
expressed his determination to
modernize the labor department
upon taking office in January. His
announcement came in the wake of
a Georgia Office of Inspector General report, which revealed that nearly 300 state employees
had mistakenly received $6.7 million in unemployment benefits over the past two years.
The envisioned transformation aims to address several critical issues, including fraud
prevention, backlog elimination, and repairing the state's 39 career centers, many of which
have suffered extensive water damage. However, the most prominent challenge lies in
modernizing an unemployment compensation system dating back to the 1980s, making it
one of the oldest in the United States.
The primary objective is to replace the outdated system with a secure, cutting-edge web-
based platform over the next 28 months. This transition to a fully online system will allow
unemployed Georgians to file claims without the need to visit a career center, improving the
overall customer experience.
Commissioner Thompson emphasized the broader benefits of the overhaul, stating, "On
the employer side, it will help keep premiums low by cutting down on fraud... [and] it gives
us greater transparency, so when we have audits, we can comply in a timely manner."
The bipartisan support for this modernization effort has been encouraging, with lawmakers
from both sides of the aisle recognizing the necessity of the changes. State House Minority
Whip Sam Park, a Democrat, commented, "I certainly think the Georgia Department of Labor
needs to be modernized to support Georgia workers and their needs." He also mentioned that
during the pandemic, one in five Georgians who applied for unemployment benefits never
received them.
Chairman of the House Industry and Labor Committee, Republican Bill Werkheiser,
echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that no state was adequately prepared for the challenges
brought by the pandemic. He cited a sudden surge in claims and a lack of staffing as factors
that strained the system.
Commissioner Thompson believes that the new system will allow the department to
operate more efficiently with a smaller staff, enhancing customer service through efficient
call routing. He stated, "There's no reason you should have people waiting three hours on
hold or six months or more waiting for appeals."
The anticipated cost of the overhaul is estimated to be between $55 million to $60 million.
The department has already secured a $28 million federal grant to support the effort and plans
to seek additional funding from the General Assembly in the fiscal 2024 midyear budget and
the fiscal 2025 spending plan.
In addition to modernizing the unemployment compensation system, the Georgia
Department of Labor has also secured an $8 million federal grant to help find jobs for
inmates released from the state prison system. This initiative aims to equip inmates with the
necessary skills to secure employment, going beyond simple job referrals.
Furthermore, the department is considering relocating some of its career centers to ensure
that all residents can access their services in safe and clean environments.
Commissioner Thompson emphasized, "Everyone in our state deserves to work in a safe,
clean environment," encapsulating the department's commitment to improving the lives of
Georgians through comprehensive reforms in the labor and employment sector.
Twenty Four East Apartments
566 East Main Street • Statesboro, Georgia 30461
Candler Apartments
400 Hershal Street • Metter, Georgia 30439
48 MODERN 1 & 2 BEDROOM
APARTMENTS
24 MODERN 1 and 2 BEDROOM
APARTMENTS
* Twenty Four East Apts, is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply.
•
Quiet residential neighborhood
* Fully-applianced electric kitchens
•
Special features for mobility impaired
• Trash removal
individuals
• Attractive grounds
•
Wall to wall carpeting
• Tenant-controlled Heat/AC
•
Laundry hook-ups in the units
* Good Cents Energy Efficient
•
Cable TV hook-ups
•
Generous closet space
OPPORTUNITY
Lease, security deposit, and references required
For information & an application contact
912-764-7852
7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only)
Reasonable Accommodations
Twenty Four East Apartments is managed by
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street •
Wrens, Georgia 30833
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs.
* Candler Apartments is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply.
• Quiet residential neighborhood
• Fully-applianced electric kitchens
• Special features for mobility impaired
• Trash removal
individuals
• Attractive grounds
• Wall to wall carpeting
• Tenant-controlled Heat/AC
• Laundry hook-ups in the units
* Good Cents Energy Efficient
• Cable TV hook-ups
• Generous closet space
OPPORTUNITY
Lease, security deposit, and references required
For information & an application contact
912-685-7465
7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only)
Candler Apartments is managed by
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street •
Wrens, Georgia 30833
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.aov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
proaramjntake@usda.gov.’'
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.' 1
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
proQram.intake@usda.gov."
Brookhaven Apartments
302 East Lee Street • Brooklet, Georgia 30415
16 MODERN 1 and 2 BEDROOM
APARTMENTS
* Brookhaven Apartments is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply.
•
Quiet residential neighborhood
• Fully-applianced electric kitchens
•
Special features for mobility impaired
• Trash removal
individuals
• Attractive grounds
•
Wall to wall carpeting
• Tenant-controlled Heat/AC
•
Laundry hook-ups in the units
• Good Cents Energy Efficient
•
Cable TV hook-ups
*
Generous closet space
OPPORTUNITY
Lease, security deposit, and references required
For information & an application contact
912-764-7852
7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only)
Brookhaven Apartments is managed by
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street •
Wrens, Georgia 30833
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
proaram.intake@usda.gov."
Eastview Apartments
500 Eastview Apts Road • Statesboro, Georgia 30458
48 MODERN 1 & 2 BEDROOM
APARTMENTS
* Eastview Apartments is financed through USDA Rural Development certain income restrictions apply.
•
Quiet residential neighborhood
• Fully-applianced electric kitchens
•
Special features for mobility impaired
• Trash removal
individuals
• Attractive grounds
•
Wall to wall carpeting
• Tenant-controlled Heat/AC
•
Laundry hook-ups in the units
• Good Cents Energy Efficient
•
Cable TV hook-ups
•
Generous closet space
©
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
Lease, security deposit, and references required
For information & an application contact
912-764-7478
7-1-1 (Georgia TDD Only)
Reasonable Accommodations
Eastview Apartments is managed by
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. • 216 Broad Street •
Wrens, Georgia 30833
W.T. Lamb Investments, Inc. is a top quality management company that cares for your needs.
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
if you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html. or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter
containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
proqram.intake@usda.gov.”
