National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is a yearly observance highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).This is that week.
Current Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some infants and children to miss or delay routinely recommended vaccinations.
A CDC report (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) released in May 2020 found a troubling drop in routine childhood vaccinations as a result of families staying at home. While families followed public health warnings about going out, an unfortunate result was many missed recommended vaccinations.
This week serves as a reminder about the importance of staying on track and ensuring infants are up to date on recommended vaccines. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that children stay on track with their well-child appointments and routine vaccinations – even during COVID-19.
Richland Public Health offers child vaccinations at the Public Health Clinic at 555 Lexington Ave., Mansfield, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Call 419 774-4700 for appointments.
Milestones Reached
The following major achievements highlight the successes of vaccine-preventable diseases among infants and young children:
- Vaccines have drastically reduced infant deaths and disability caused by preventable disease in the U.S.
- Through immunization, we can now protect infants and children from 14 vaccine-preventable diseases before age two.
- Routine childhood immunization among children born from 1994-2018 will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 8 million hospitalizations, and 936,000 early deaths over the course of their lifetimes.
Childhood immunization has resulted in a net savings of $406 billion in direct costs and $1.9 trillion in total economic impact.
Source, Photo: Richland Public Health
