Free flu vaccines to be given to students

Among white teenage girls, ages 15 to 19, there were 56 births per 1,000 during 2009, the last year for which these figures were available. That’s down from 105 births per 1,000 in 1990, however it is up slightly from 1976, when the rate was reported as 43 teens per 1,000.

Among black teens, the rate for 2009 was 89 per 1,000, down from a high of 174 per 1,000 in 1979.

“I just wish the growth in family planning matched the growth in population,” Burnett said.

However, family planning programs have stayed pretty flat in the county since about 2004, according to a chart showing patient encounters by program, with about 1,500 being served since then. However the WIC program (Women, Infants and Children) has increased pretty steadily since 1986, when there were less than 500 clients served. About 3,900 clients were served in 2011.

Burnett said there will be $5 million in cuts to WIC in state funding next year, which translates into a $300,000 cut for the northeast health district, and $14,000 for Madison County.

And Burnett added that there will likely be some cuts in federal funding also.

The next board of health meeting is set for Thursday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m.