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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Community Outreaches

Upcoming Events

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County

Drive-Through Rabies Vaccination Clinic

Veterinarians administer rabies vaccine at Drive-Through Rabies Vaccination Clinic

DOH-Santa Rosa hosted the annual drive-through rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Friday, September 27 at the Pensacola State College Milton Campus. DOH-Santa Rosa partnered with veterinarians from Ark Animal Hospital to provide the vaccine and administer the injections while DOH-Santa Rosa staff handed out animal treats. This year a total of 35 volunteers participated in the Rabies Point of Distribution (POD) Exercise, including DOH-Santa Rosa staff members, MRC/CERT volunteers, and Santa Rosa County employees. A total of 220 animals were vaccinated during the two-hour event.

Each year DOH-Santa Rosa hosts the rabies vaccination clinic. In 2019, NACCHO awarded the DOH-Santa Rosa Drive-thru Rabies POD Clinic as a “Best Practice”. In 2024, the clinic was moved to the actual open POD location at Pensacola State College Milton Campus. This location would be utilized if a mass immunization was required in Santa Rosa County. The exercise provided a great learning experience for staff and volunteers to know the flow of this POD location in a real scenario.

 “We are happy to be able to partner with local veterinarians to provide this service,” said DOH-Santa Rosa Administrator R. Matthew Dobson.  “It’s a very worthwhile effort.”

 

National Night Out

DOH-Santa Rosa member stands behind a tobacco cessation display at the National Night Out event.

DOH-Santa Rosa partnered with CDAC Behavioral Health to host the annual National Night Out event on August 6. The event took place at the Clyde Gracey Community Center in Milton, and it included 49 vendors and 35 volunteers.

The event is celebrated nationwide each year to educate residents on drug and crime prevention, and it was attended by 1,567 participants.

This year, DOH-Santa Rosa staff worked alongside CDAC Behavioral Health, city of Milton Police Department, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, and many other community partners at the National Night Out event. These partners helped to distribute school supplies for students and resources for tobacco cessation, diabetes prevention, family planning, drug awareness, child safety, crime prevention, and much more.

“The event was a great way for family, friends, and neighbors to promote healthy lifestyles and safe neighborhoods,” said DOH-Santa Rosa staff member and National Night Out organizer Vince Nguyen.