NASHVILLE - This new year, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) continues to urge Tennesseans to prioritize their health. One way to live a healthier version of yourself is to take steps in prevention of cancer. This January during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, TDH encourages HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.

NASHVILLE - Human trafficking continues to be a public health concern in Tennessee. Through mid-December 2021, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Hotline had received 1,185 tips or leads related to human trafficking concerns. This January, which is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Tennessee Department of Health encourages Tennesseans to learn risk factors, red flags, and resources for human trafficking that could help save a life.

NASHVILLE - Today, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) announced the state has received shipments of the Merck and Pfizer oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19.

NASHVILLE - Today, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) released year-end, reconciled COVID-19 data, process improvements and previewed 2022 operational priorities.

NASHVILLE - For some people, stress increases during the holiday season, leading to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. If you or a loved one experience a mental health crisis, live with substance misuse or exhibit suicidal behavior during the winter holidays, there are resources and services available through the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) to help navigate those challenges and strengthen community connections.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health is recognizing the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in the state. The first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was given at Vanderbilt Medical Center on December 16, 2020. In following days doses of the first available COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer BioN-Tech and Moderna, arrived and were distributed according to the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.

NASHVILLE – Throughout November, the Tennessee Department of Health is recognizing National Diabetes Awareness Month. This year the campaign looks to educate individuals on ways to reverse pre-diabetes and prevent or delay the onset of diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes.

NASHVILLE –Today, the Tennessee Department of Health announced a temporary increase to the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) for fruit and vegetable purchases. The CVB increase applies to women and children participants via eligible food packages during November and December.

NASHVILLE – Today, the Tennessee Department of Health shared that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 years. While young children often have milder illness than adults, outbreaks in this age group are common, can disrupt home and family life, and can lead to spread in the general community, including those at high risk of severe disease.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is urging all Tennesseans who have not yet received a flu vaccine this flu season to get one as soon as possible. For the fourth consecutive year, Tennessee county health departments hold special “Fight Flu TN” flu vaccine events in every county on November 9 to increase the number of people vaccinated against influenza across Tennessee.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health will begin offering booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines to certain populations, beginning Monday, October 25.

NASHVILLE - During October, the Tennessee Department of Health recognizes both Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness with the Wear a Little Purple with Your Pink Campaign. This campaign takes the easily recognized pink ribbon for breast cancer and combines it with the purple ribbon for domestic violence. While nearly one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is recognizing Child Health Month (CHM) throughout the month of October. This annual recognition is a time to celebrate and raise awareness around what Tennessee is doing to promote the health of our most important resource: Tennessee’s children.

NASHVILLE - While most recognize the color pink in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October and November marks the second annual Tennessee Pink and Pearl Campaign promoting both breast and lung cancer awareness. The addition of the pearl color represents the ribbon for lung cancer awareness, which is observed in November. While breast cancer is the most common cancer in female Tennesseans, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health is working with the United States Department of Agriculture to help prevent rabies by distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons along Tennessee’s borders with Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. The annual baiting program administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, will begin in Tennessee on October 1, 2021.