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PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 For Release: |
Mary E. O'Dowd, M.P.H. Acting Commissioner For Further Information Contact: | |
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During National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) (April 23-30), the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is highlighting the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and supporting health care providers and public health partners as they hold events to encourage healthier communities.
“Vaccines protect individuals, they protect communities, and they enable the medical community to greatly reduce the chances of an outbreak of disease that would become a major health crisis,” said Acting Commissioner Mary O’Dowd. “I urge everyone to support National Infant Immunization Month by participating in events being held by health care organizations across New Jersey.”
Infants are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases; that is why it is critical to protect them through immunization. Each day, nearly 12,000 babies are born in the U.S. and all of them will need to be immunized against 14 vaccine preventable diseases before age two.
According to the 2009 National Immunization Survey, approximately 67 percent of New Jersey children ages19 - 35 months received the recommended vaccine doses compared to the US National average of approximately 70 percent. These vaccines provide protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, haemophilus influenza B, hepatitis B and chickenpox.
Because of the success of vaccines in preventing disease, parents often are unaware that children are at risk for so many serious and life-threatening diseases. However, vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat to children. The CDC reports that as recently as 2010, California recorded more than 8,000 cases of whooping cough, resulting in the death of 10 infants; and worldwide, 100,000 children die each year of measles.
Throughout National Infant Immunization Week, local health care organizations across New Jersey will be extending hours, hosting educational events, and organizing community-wide immunization awareness walks.
Since 1994, the last week in April has been designated and celebrated nationally as NIIW. National Infant Immunization Week highlights the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrates the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities.
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is partnering with the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) to hold community events across the United States and throughout the Western Hemisphere. Hundreds of communities are expected to take part in celebrating NIIW. Listed below are New Jersey events being held in honor of NIIW. A complete list of events is available below. Additional information regarding vaccinations and NIIW week can be found on the CDC website.
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Vaccine Preventable Disease Program
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) NIIW April 23-30, 2011 List of Events
Immunization Awareness Walks
1. Irvington Preschool Academy 141 Montgomery Avenue Irvington, New Jersey 07111 Tuesday, April 19 10:00-11:00am For More Information contact: Atif Nazir, Health Officer Irvington Health Department (973)-399-6647
2. CAMcare Health Corporation 817 Federal Street Camden, NJ 08103 Tuesday, April 26 10:00 am. For more information contact: Cynthia Primas-Taylor Director of Clinical and Support Services 856-687-2213
3. Newark Department of Health Newark City Hall Steps 920 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102 Friday, April 29 Walk begins 10:00 am Project Vaccinate For more information contact: Dorothy A. McCall Manager, Children Health Services (973)-733-7580
Listing of NIIW awareness events---listed alphabetically by county
Atlantic County
Organization Name: Atlantic City Department of Health and Human Services Event or Activity:
Distributing CDC posters and bookmarks in English and Spanish at local daycare centers and schools.
Partnering with WIC to provide a health education table with materials to encourage parents to immunize their children.
Date: Thursday, April 28 Time: 9:30am-12:00 pm Contact Person: Rhonda Fitzgerald Nurse Coordinator, Pediatric Health Center Phone: 609-347-6870
Bergen County
Organization Name: Board of Health Event or Activity:
Child Health Clinic for 15 towns in Hillsdale. Ongoing information in the town’s newspaper and local papers.
Date: Ongoing—once a month Time: 9:00 am-12:30 pm Contact Person: Barbara Martine Phone: 201-666-4800 ext. 1528 Email: bamartine@optonline.net
Organization Name: Paramus Board of Health Event or Activity:
Mayoral Proclamation for NIIW Sending press releases to announce that Paramus Board of Health will be offering free immunizations to qualifying infants and children.
Date: Tuesday, April 12 Time: 1:00 pm Contact Person: Paula Opitz, RN, MS Phone: Must register by calling 201-265-2100, x 615 or 618 Email: popitz@paramusborough.org
Organization Name: Hackensack Health Department Event or Activity:
Wednesday, April 27 8:30-11:00 am Child Health Conference enrollment and regular CHC session
Thursday, April 28: 9:00 am-3:00 pm New Jersey Family Care enrollment at Hackensack WIC site
Contact Person: Eleanor Seidel, RN or Shelly Fierman Phone: 201-646-3963 or 201-646-3964 Email: jchrist@hackensack.org
Essex County
Organization Name: St. Barnabas Medical Center Event or Activity:
St. Barnabas Medical Center will display a table in the hospital cafeteria with handouts regarding the importance of immunizations.
Date: Tuesday, April 26 Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm Contact Person: Barbara Podberesky Nurse Coordinator, Pediatric Health Center Phone: 973-322-5400 Email: BPodberesky@sbhcs.com
Hudson County
Organization Name: Metropolitan Family Health Network Event or Activity:
Free vaccinations for infants and children 2 years and younger
Date: Thursday, April 28 Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm Contact Person: Carmen Moloughney, RN Phone: 201-478-5825 Email: cmoloughney@metroghn.org
Organization Name: North Hudson Community Action Corporation 2500 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, NJ 07087 Event or Activity:
Press Conference for NIIW
Date: Monday, April 25 Time: 10:00 am Contact Person: Dr. Mason-Eastmond, Director of Pediatrics or Anny Taveras, Public Health Infection Control Coordinator Phone: 201-424-0103 or 201 553-7888
Organization Name: North Hudson Community Action Corporation
Event or Activity:
Free Vaccine Days
Date: Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27 Time: 8:00-11:30 am Contact Person: Dr. Mason-Eastmond, Director of Pediatrics or Anny Taveras, Public Health Infection Control Coordinator Phone: 201-424-0103 or 201-866-9320
Organization Name: North Hudson Community Action Corporation 2500 Kennedy Boulevard Union City, NJ 07087
Event or Activity:
Free Vaccine Day
Date: Thursday, April 28 Time: 8:30am-7:00 pm Contact Person: Dr. Mason-Eastmond, Director of Pediatrics or Anny Taveras, Public Health Infection Control Coordinator Phone: 201-424-0103 or 201-553-7888
Organization Name: North Hudson Community Action Corporation
Event or Activity:
Free Vaccine Day
Date: Friday, April 29 Time: 8:30-11:30 am Contact Person: Dr. Mason-Eastmond, Director of Pediatrics or Anny Taveras, Public Health Infection Control Coordinator Phone: 201-424-0103 or 201-330-2632
Mercer County
Organization Name: New Jersey Immunization Network (NJIN)
“Cocooning Against Pertussis: Cocoons Are Not Only for Butterflies” webinar. This program will feature Dr. Peter Wenger, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Strategies for preventing the transmission of Bordetella pertussis in infants (e.g., cocooning), adolescents, and adults will be discussed.
Since space is limited, please register as a group instead of individually (i.e. all health department staff who wish to view the webinar would register together as one group instead of each staff member registering individually.)
Please reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/315213350
Date: Tuesday, April 26 Time: 12:30-1:30 pm Contact Person: Mary Jo Garofoli, Program Manager Phone: 609-588-9988 Email: mjgarofoli@njpcore.org
Ocean County
Organization Name: Lakewood Resource & Referral Center Event or Activity:
Creating and distributing posters promoting NIIW to all local pediatric offices in the community
Date(s): April 23-30 Time: Contact Person: Leah Schnall Phone: 732-942-9292 x 105 Email: lschnall@lrrcenter.org
Union County
Organization Name: The Arc of Union County Bright Beginnings Event or Activity:
Infant class created posters recognizing NIIW. Posters are displayed in the classrooms.
Date(s): March 25-April 30 Time: Contact Person: Khadijah Green Phone: 908-276-6660 Email: kgreen@arcunion.org
For more information contact:
NJDHSS Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, Jennifer Smith, Health Educator at 609-826-4860
CDC National Infant Immunization Week http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/index.html
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