New Jersey Marks National Infant Immunization Week Immunization. Power to Protect.
During the week of April 21-28, 2012, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will observe National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of childhood immunizations. Each year during NIIW, DHSS supports public health agencies and healthcare providers across New Jersey as they hold special events to promote the critical importance of vaccinating infants and to improve the health of children. Through immunization, we can now protect infants and children from 14 vaccine-preventable diseases before age two. "Vaccine Preventable Diseases can be especially serious for infants and young children. That is why it is important to follow the CDC recommended immunization schedule to protect infants and children by providing immunity early in life, before they are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases," said Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd. "This week serves as an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and to raise awareness of age-appropriate immunizations." According to the 2010 National Immunization Survey, 66.4 percent of New Jersey children ages 19 - 35 months received the recommended vaccine doses compared to the national average of 74.9 percent. These vaccines provide protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B and chickenpox. Due to the success of vaccines in preventing disease, parents often are unaware that children are at risk for so many serious and life-threatening diseases. Even when diseases are rare in the U.S., they can be brought into the country, putting unvaccinated children at risk. One example of the seriousness of vaccine-preventable diseases was the California whooping cough epidemic of 2010, which resulted in the death of 10 infants. Nationally, more than 21,000 cases of the whooping cough were reported in 2010. Additionally, the CDC reported last week that 2011 was the worst year for measles in the U.S. in the last 15 years with 222 cases reported. On average the U.S. experiences 60 cases of measles each year. 90 percent of the cases were traced to other countries with lower immunization rates. "Vaccines are among the most successful public health tools available for preventing disease and death," said Dr. Arturo Brito, Deputy Commissioner for Public Health Services. "For example, parents in the United States no longer have to worry about their children getting smallpox because of tremendous worldwide vaccination efforts. Hopefully in the future, parents may be able to trust that other vaccine-preventable diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children." This year's NIIW will be celebrated as part of the first World Immunization Week (WIW), an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO). During WIW, all six WHO regions, including more than 180 Member States, territories, and areas, will simultaneously promote immunization, advance equity in the use of vaccines and universal access to vaccination services, and enable cooperation on cross-border immunization activities in April 2012. Listed below are some NJ events being held in honor of NIIW. For more information about NIIW, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/index.html For more information about the NJ Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, visit: http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/vpdp/
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Vaccine Preventable Disease Program
National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) NIIW April 21-28, 2012 List of Events Immunization Awareness Walks
Organization Name: Newark Department of Child and Family Well-Being Project Vaccinate
Event or Activity:
Immunization awareness walk with local community partners. The walk will begin at Newark City Hall (920 Broad Street). Date: Monday, April 23 Time: 10:00 am Contact Person: Dorothy A. McCall, Manager of Children Health Services Phone: 973-733-7580 Email: mccalld@ci.newark.nj.us
Organization Name: Irvington Health Department Event or Activity: Immunization awareness walk at Irvington Park. The walk has been organized by the local health department, local schools, and day care centers. Mayor Wayne Smith and other public officials will be participating! Date: Wednesday, April 25 Time: 9:30-11:30 am Contact Person: Dr. Atif Nazir, Health Officer Phone: 973-399-6647 Email: ATIFHD@gmail.com Organization Name: CAMcare Health Corporation
Event or Activity: Immunization awareness walk with participating area day care centers. Date: Friday, April 27 Time: 10:00 am Contact Person: Cynthia Primas-Taylor, Director of Clinical and Support Services Phone: 856-687-2210 Email: Cynthia@camcare.net Organization Name: East Orange General Hospital, City of Orange, City of East Orange
Event or Activity: Immunization awareness walk beginning at Orange Park located on Central and Oakwood Avenue. Date: Saturday, April 28 Time: 10:00 am Contact Person: Theresa A. Combs Phone: 973-266-4454 Email: CombsT@evh.org Listing of NIIW awareness events---listed alphabetically by county Bergen County Organization Name: Paramus Board of Health
Event or Activity: Immunization clinic for infants and children on April 24. Mayoral Proclamation for NIIW Bulletin Board display for NIIW in Borough Hall. Sending press releases to various newspapers, organizations, and public officials.
Date: Tuesday, April 24 Time: 1:00-3:00 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: City of Hackensack-Department of Health Organization Address: 215 State Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 Event or Activity:
Child Health Conferences (CHCs): Every 1st and 3rd Friday of each month 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each Month. School Age Immunization Every 3rd Wednesday of each month---free immunizations for school-age children. Promoting NIIW by playing immunization health promotional DVDs on the monitor in the health department lobby.
CHC: Date: Wednesday, April 25 Time: 8:30 am -12:00 pm Contact Person: Michelle Ryan Phone: 201-646-3963 Email: mryan@hackensack.org
Essex County
Organization Name: Newark Department of Child and Family Well-Being
Immunization Clinic (infant-18 years) Date: Monday-Friday Time: 8:30am-4:30 pm Contact Person: Dorothy A. McCall, Manager of Children Health Services Phone: 973-733-7580 Email: mccalld@ci.newark.nj.us Gloucester County Organization Name: Gloucester County Department of Health and Senior Services
Event or Activity: Show "Vaccines and Your Baby" and videos about pertussis. Handouts including "Immunize Your Child" and coloring/sticker books for children. Immunization clinic (infant-18 years) Date: Tuesday, April 24 Time: 8:30-11:00 am 1:00-2:30 pm Immunization clinic (infant-18 years) Date: Thursday, April 26 Time: 8:30-11:00 am Contact Person: Ruth w. Skay, APN Phone: 856-218-4150 Email: rskay@co.gloucester.nj.us Mercer County Organization Name: New Jersey Immunization Network (NJIN)
Event or Activity: Outreach/mailing to NJ Senate and Assembly legislators regarding Hepatitis B proposed legislation. The outreach will include a video and a flyer about hepatitis B. Various immunization resources will be sent to over 1,000 statewide contacts. Resources will include information about NIIW, NJ's school immunization requirements, and brief videos about vaccine-preventable diseases. These resources will be sent weekly beginning NIIW through Father's Day.
Contact Person: Patricia Van Abs Phone: 609-588-9988 Email: pvanabs@aapnj.org
For more information contact: NJDHSS Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, Jennifer Smith, Health Educator at 609-826-4860 CDC National Infant Immunization Week |
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