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Immunization Registries Briefing ECBT Supports Continued Use of MMR Vaccine Additional News Stories and Press Releases National Infant Immunization Week Gates Foundation Awards $18 Million Grant to Sabin Vaccine Institute |
National Infant Immunization Week From MMWR April 07, 2000 / 49(13);273 National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 16-22, 2000; this year's theme is "You Gave Them Life...Protect It." This week emphasizes the importance of timely infant and childhood vaccination. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect children, especially infants and young children, from potentially serious diseases. Because of increased vaccination efforts in the United States, eight vaccine-preventable diseases are at or near record low levels. In 1999, 86 measles cases, eight congenital rubella cases, one diphtheria case, and no wild polio virus cases were reported (1,2). Approximately 11,000 babies are born each day in the United States; they need 16-20 doses of vaccine before age 2 years. Although vaccination coverage levels are high for preschool-aged children, approximately 1 million 2-year-old children are missing one or more of the recommended vaccine doses (3). During NIIW, states and communities will sponsor activities designed to highlight the need to achieve and maintain high childhood vaccination coverage rates. In addition, CDC will launch a new television public service announcement (PSA) and two radio PSAs in Spanish. Additional information about NIIW and childhood vaccinations is available from CDC's National Immunization Program World-Wide Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/nip/ or the National Immunization Information Hotline, telephone (800) 232-2522 (English) or (800) 232-0233 (Spanish). References |