National Infant Immuzination Week

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 21-28, 2007, is an annual observance established 13 years ago by the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to remind parents, health professionals, and the public that children deserve a healthy start to life by immunizing them against vaccine-preventable diseases. For the third year, NIIW is partnering with Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) to promote infant immunization in all countries of the Americas. Through the NIIW, the U.S. will join together with 39 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 vaccinepreventable 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 A vaccine (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/ niiw/