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This year, we are celebrating our 19th year of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). It’s wonderful to have this annual opportunity to recognize the important role vaccines play in protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. We are thankful to state and local immunization programs and their partners for the role they play in promoting healthy communities across our nation. As dedicated partners and stakeholders, you’re one of the main reasons we have seen record levels of vaccination coverage among young children in the United States. However, recent outbreaks of pertussis and measles underscore the importance of maintaining high immunization rates.
This year, we are excited to have new resources available to help support your vaccine efforts and outreach. These resources range from television, radio, and print public service announcements to drop-in articles, web videos, and sample tweets and Facebook posts. Each of these tools will help us speak with a unified voice in promoting childhood immunizations during the week and year-round.
For the second consecutive year, we are also looking forward to joining the world in celebration of healthy infants as part of WHO’s World Immunization Week. Since diseases have no borders, we must work together globally to protect all of the world’s children, families and communities.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge and thank the CDC Foundation for joining with us to recognize Childhood Immunization Champions across the United States. These Champions have worked tirelessly to promote childhood immunizations in their communities. We are honored to congratulate the Champions that were selected this year.
We are looking forward to hearing about how you will be using the new resources for your local NIIW events, promoting infant immunizations, and recognizing your Champion. Please keep in touch with us throughout the week and beyond using the NIIW website. Thank you again for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Melinda Wharton, M.D.
Deputy Director, National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases, CDC
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