National Infant Immunization Week

National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to promote the benefits of immunizations and to focus on the importance of immunizing infants against vaccine preventable diseases by age two.

This year NIIW will again be held in conjunction with the Pan American Health Organization's Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA), April 22-29, 2006. The U.S. will join together with 35 countries in the Western

Hemisphere to concurrently promote the need for routine vaccinations for infants and children during the last week in April.

David N. Westfall, M.D., Health Director - North Health District, stresses "parents and guardians should get required vaccinations for their children on schedule. Immunizations are the best defense against vaccine-preventable diseases and missed doses can be administered during

subsequent visits to your health care provider. During this week of observance, take time to talk with your health department or health care provider to ensure that every child is up-to-date."

Recommended immunizations for infants and children include:

+ Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine,

+ Dipththeria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP),

+ Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) - adolescent

preparation),

+ Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (Hib),

+ Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR)

+ Varicella vaccine

+ Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) or Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4)

+ Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV or PPV) + Influenza Vaccine

+ Hepatitis Avaccine (HepA)

If you have questions concerning any of these vaccines, you should talk with your health care provider. More information about National Infant Immunization Week can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/events/n iiw/