NIIW 2014 Activities around the World
December 17, 2014: Content on this page kept for historical reasons.
State and Territorial Activities
Dothan, AL
Date/Time: April 30 (10:00 pm)
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Local media interviewed Alabama’s Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient.
Metlakatla, AK
Date/Time: April 30
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Recognized and promoted the Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient on the American Academy of Pediatrics, Alaska Chapter’s Facebook page.
Douglas, AZ
Date/Time: May 1
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: The Arizona Partnership for Immunization recognized Arizona’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a feature story.
San Diego, CA
Date/Time: April 26-May 3
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: San Diego Immunization Coalition recognized California’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a feature story.
Craig, CO
Date/Time: April 29 (3:00-5:00 pm)
Activity: Drop In Immunization Clinic Week.
Description: Ads in papers, radio and schools promoting the event.
Contact: Jacque Malley jmalley@nwcovna.org.
Denver, CO
Date/Time: April 29 (3:00-5:00 pm)
Activity: 9News Health Fair Tdap Booster Shots.
Description: On May 4, 2014 the Colorado State Health Department partnered with Denver Public Health to offer free Tdap immunizations at the 9News Health Fair located at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202). In addition to providing staffing from the Immunization Clinic, Denver Public Health partnered with their Emergency Preparedness program to utilize Handheld Automatic Notification for Drugs and Immunizations (HANDI), an application developed to collect information by scanning ID?s and driver’s licenses in mass vaccination clinics. Due to the recent high rates of pertussis, the overall goal was to provide all adults with a booster of the Tdap. A total of 52 Tdap booster shots were given.
Contact: Lynn Trefren, Immunization Section Chief, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, lynn.trefren@state.co.us, or visit https://cdphe.colorado.gov/immunization.
Denver, CO
Date/Time: May 5 (11:00am-6:00pm)
Activity: “Immunize for Good” Mobile Billboards.
Description: Mobile billboards promoting the “Immunize for Good” campaign ran from 11am-1pm combing 16th street mall, and 4pm-6pm on the major arteries throughout Downtown Denver from Monday through Wednesday.
Contact: Lynn Trefren, Immunization Section Chief, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, lynn.trefren@state.co.us, or visit https://cdphe.colorado.gov/immunization.
Thornton, CO
Date/Time: May 2
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Lakewood Connect recognized Colorado’s CDC Childhood Immunization Champion in a feature story.
New Milford, CT
Date/Time: April 30 (12:00-1:00 pm)
Activity: 2014 CT Childhood Immunization Champion Award Ceremony.
Description: Connecticut’s Childhood Immunization Champion for 2014 was honored at the New Milford Town Hall in a ceremony with her peers to showcase and recognize Geri Rodda for finding a creative way to improve health literacy around immunization, by writing children’s books about vaccines.
Contact: Nancy Sharova, CIRTS Coordinator, CT Department of Public Health, nancy.sharova@ct.gov, or visit https://portal.ct.gov/immunization.
Washington, DC
Date/Time: April 26-May 3
Activity: CDC blogger call.
Description: We are conducting a blog relay all week to promote and focus on our big launch of the film “Invisible Threat”.
Contact: Amy Pisani, Executive Director, Every Child By Two, Carter/Bumpers Champions for Immunization, amyp@ecbt.org.
St. Petersburg, FL
Date/Time: April 29
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: All Children’s Hospital published a release to announce Florida’s Childhood Immunization Champion.
Contact: Danielle Rotolo, danielle.rotolo@allkids.org, All Children’s Hospital.
East Point, GA
Date/Time: April
Activity: Self-published a parent/child reader.
Description: In response to the misinformation about vaccines, I wrote and self-published a parent/child reader that explains what vaccines are, how they work, and why they’re important.
Contact: Bridget Gongol, bridget.gongol@gmail.com, or visit https://www.bridgetgongol.com/2014/05/all-about-book-all-about-vaccines.html.
Idaho Falls, ID
Date/Time: April 29 (3:00-6:00 pm)
Activity: Free Clinic.
Description: Free Immunization Clinic.
Contact: James Corbett jcorbett@phd7.idaho.gov, or visit https://eiph.id.gov/.
Chicago, IL
Date/Time: April 28 (12:00-1:00pm)
Activity: Professional Training: National Infant Immunization Week Webinar: Infant Immunizations and How to Address Parent Concerns.
Description: Objectives of the webinar:1) Describe the importance of vaccines for children age 0-3 2) Provide useful suggestions and strategies to use when speaking to parents and 3) Increase attendees knowledge of childhood vaccines. Immunization is a shared responsibility. Families, health care professionals, and public health officials must work together to help protect the entire community! Dr. Marealita Pierce, Pierce Pediatrics Associates, Chicago, Illinois, did a great job presenting and it is not Chicago/ Illinois specific so it could easily be share with partners across the country. A link to the archived recording of the webinar is saved here: https://www.ilmaternal.org/webinars.html.
Contact: Kelly McKenna, Coordinator, Immunization Initiative, EverThrive Illinois kmckenna@everthriveil.org, or visit https://www.ilmaternal.org/webinars.html.
Boonville, IN
Date/Time: April 26-May 3
Activity: Local Media Coverage.
Description: The local newspaper came to our baby clinic and interviewed one of our moms and ran an article entitled “Vaccinations can eliminate some diseases” In the article the mom spoke about why she chooses to vaccinate her children even though one of her children had an adverse reaction to varicella vaccine.
We also provided 1000 Expectant brochures(provided by Indiana Immunization Coalition to the Deaconess Women’s Hospital- OB/GYN offices to be included in their new mom packets.
Contact: Sharon James, Public Health Nurse, Warrick county Health Dept, nursing@warrickcounty.gov.
Des Moines, IA
Date/Time: April 25
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Unity Point Health published a press release to announce Iowa’s Childhood Immunization Champion.
Manchester, ME
Date/Time: May 2 (2:05 pm)
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Maine Quality Counts announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a feature story published in the Bangor Daily News.
Worcester, MA
Date/Time: April 25
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Massachusetts chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a press release.
Contact: Cynthia McReynolds, cmcreynolds@mcaap.org.
St. Paul, MN
Date/Time: April 26-May 3
Activity: Op-eds/Letters to the Editor.
Description: We reached out to parents and providers across the state and asked them to consider writing an op-ed or Letter to the Editor for their local newspaper about the importance of infant immunizations.
Contact: Andrea Ahneman, Communications and Social Media Planner, Minnesota Department of Health, andrea.ahneman@state.mn.us, or visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiw.html.
St. Paul, MN
Date/Time: May 1
Activity: Family Night at Minnesota Children’s Museum.
Description: The Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Program partnered with the new Minnesota Childhood Immunization Coalition to put on a Family Night at the Minnesota Children’s Museum. The museum was open to families for free from 6-8 p.m. MDH and the coalition had immunization materials available such as fact sheets, coloring sheets, and buttons. Children were able to play in the museum and then there was a story time with a retired local TV anchor. He read The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor which talks about the importance of immunizations in keeping kids healthy. Minnesota’s CDC Childhood Immunization Champion also talked to the kids about covering their cough and sneeze, washing their hands, and getting their flu shot every year to stay healthy.
Contact: Andrea Ahneman, Communications and Social Media Planner, Minnesota Department of Health, andrea.ahneman@state.mn.us, or visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiw.html.
St. Paul, MN
Date/Time: May 1 (6:00-8:00 pm)
Activity: Family Night.
Description: In conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Childhood Immunization Coalition sponsored a Family Night at the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul. Children and their grown-ups played throughout the museum. To cap off the night, local TV news anchor Don Shelby read the children “The Bearenstain Bears Go to the Doctor” and Children’s Hospital and Immunization Champion Patsy Stinchfield showed the children a giant influenza germ and explained how we can all work to stop the spread of disease.
Contact: Karen Ernst, Co-founder, Minnesota Childhood Immunization Coalition, householdsix@gmail.com.
St. Paul, MN
Date/Time: April 29
Activity: Grand Rounds on Talking to Vaccine Hesitant Parents.
Description: The MDH Immunization Program partnered with the president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to do a Grand Rounds presentation at one hospital in Mankato, MN. His presentation focused on using the C.A.S.E. Communication model for talking to vaccine hesitant parents about infant immunizations as well as immunizations recommended for pregnant women.
Contact: Andrea Ahneman, Communications and Social Media Planner, Minnesota Department of Health, andrea.ahneman@state.mn.us, or visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiw.html.
St. Paul, MN
Date/Time: April 29
Activity: Class at Birth Center.
Description: The Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Program teamed up with our Community and Family Health Program to put on a three-part class about child growth and development and immunizations for Somali women at a local birth center. The class educators are Somali women, so they speak the language and understand the culture.
Contact: Andrea Ahneman, Communications and Social Media Planner, Minnesota Department of Health, andrea.ahneman@state.mn.us, or visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/niiw.html.
St. Paul, MN
Date/Time: April 28
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Minnesota Department of Health announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a press release.
Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: May 3 (10 am – 2 pm)
Activity: Passport to Immunization.
Description: Join the Southern Nevada Health District for their annual Passport to Immunizations.
Featured Services:
- No-Cost Immunizations
- Dental Screenings
- Vision Screenings
- Fluoride Varnish
- Health Resources and MORE!
Contact: Kameron Klein Kameron.Klein@DignityHealth.org.
Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: May 3 (7 am – 10 am)
Activity: Communicating with Parents: Combating Dr. Google.
Description: Stop competing with ‘Dr. Google’ and start conversing with parents. Discover how media influences beliefs about vaccines. Learn to debunk common myths and convey accurate immunization information so they get it!
This program has been approved for 2 childcare training hours from The Nevada Registry and 2 nursing contact hours by St. Rose Dominican Hospitals – Education Department.
Contact: Kameron Klein Kameron.Klein@DignityHealth.org.
Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: May 2 (4:30-7:30 pm)
Activity: Baby Happy Hour Health Fair.
Description: In celebration of National Infant Immunization Week (April 26-May 3), Helping Kids Clinic will hosted a Baby Happy Hour Health Fair. The community event included no-cost vaccines for uninsured, underinsured, and children with Nevada Check Up or Medicaid.
Featured Services:
- Dental Screenings
- Vision Screenings
- Fluoride Varnish
- Breastfeeding Support
- Health Resources and MORE!
Contact: Kameron Klein Kameron.Klein@DignityHealth.org.
Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: April 30 (8 am – 4 pm)
Activity: 2014 MCH Spring Symposium.
Description: Presented by the Nevada Statewide Maternal Child Health Coalition (NVMCH), the MCH Spring Symposium was a no-cost, day-long educational opportunity featuring a diverse lineup of topics centered around improving the health of Nevada’s families.
Featured Services:
- Advocacy in Health
- Cocooning: Increasing Antepartum with a Postpartum Safety Net
- Nurse-Family Partnership: Home Visiting in Clark County
- CYSHCN: Resources from Family TIES
- Breastfeeding: A Public Health Imperative
- Sexual Health and Education: Nevada’s Opportunity
- Reducing Pre-term Births
- Domestic Violence: A Public Health Priority
- Maternal Mental Health Disorders: The Urgency and Solutions
Contact: Kameron Klein Kameron.Klein@DignityHealth.org.
Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: April 30
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Southern Nevada Immunization & Health Coalition announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a feature story.
Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: April 26 (10 am – 2 pm)
Activity: WIC Linkage – Playdate Safari.
Description: Nevada WIC-enrolled families were invited to come down to the Children’s Discovery Museum and go on safari with the Linkage Lion as we discover the importance of staying up-to-date on immunizations.
Featured Services:
- Opportunity to earn WIC benefits
- No-Cost Immunizations
- Dental Screenings
- Vision Screenings
- Fluoride Varnish
- Breastfeeding support and resources
- FREE access to the Discovery Children’s Museum for Nevada WIC-enrolled families.
Contact: Kameron Klein Kameron.Klein@DignityHealth.org.
Albuquerque, NM
Date/Time: May 2
Activity: Provider Awards Dinner.
Description: 120 Providers were honored for excellent immunization rates, both for infant immunizations and adolescent immunizations. Four Immunization Champions were also recognized. About 230 people attended the event.
Contact: Anna Pentler apentler@unm.edu.
Albany, NY
Date/Time: April 29 (11:00 am)
Activity: Broadcast of Text4Baby message.
Description: Broadcast of message in observance of NIIW to 19,607 NYS Text4Baby users.
Contact: Terry Powers, Public Health Educator, New York State Department of Health theresa.powers@health.ny.gov, or visit https://www.putnamcountyny.com/.
Brewster, NY
Date/Time: April 26
Activity: Cocooning Newborn Caregivers with Tdap.
Description: Tdap vaccinations were available to promote cocooning of newborns, and information on all infant immunizations was given to attendees of the 9th annual Children’s Safety Fair held in Putnam County, along with coloring pages for children celebrating the 20th NIIW.
Contact: Jeanette Baldanza, Immunization coordinator, Putnam County Department of Health, jeanette.baldanza@putnamcountyny.gov, or visit https://www.putnamcountyny.com/.
Schenectady, NY
Date/Time: The month of May
Activity: Bulletin Board with information at the YMCA (2 in Schenectady county)
Description: Used many cute pictures of babies and printed information to promote immunizations (used Spanish on in downtown) I have photos of the Bulletin boards.
Contact: Jane F Russell, jane.russell@schenectadycounty.com.
Wampsville, NY
Date/Time: Month of April
Activity: Snack Containers with Infant Immunization Information.
Description: We partnered with healthcare providers and child care centers to distribute NIIW information. We had snack containers imprinted with the NIIW logo. Inside, we placed our clinic schedule. On the back, we printed the immunization schedule for babies. Four childcare centers and five OB and family practice healthcare providers handed them out to families with children age 2 and under and expectant parents. Talking points were included for the providers, which stressed the importance of getting infants immunizations on time and to have their immunization records with them when they go to the doctor. We also sent a news release to the local newspapers.
Contact: Chrystal Johnson, Public Health Educator II, Madison County Health Department, chrystal.johnson@madisoncounty.ny.gov, or visit https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/206/Health-Department .
Boone, NC
Date/Time: April 28
Activity: NIIW Promotion.
Description: I placed posters on several bulletin boards, recommended schedules, incidents where flu, and MMR are out there in the United States, “If You Choose Not to Vaccinate Your Child” information sheet from the CDC. Placed “Good Reliable Resources” for parents to take.
Contact: Amanda Winebarger, Vaccine Coordinator, Blue Ridge Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, INC, awinebarger@blueridgepeds.com.
Grand Forks, ND
Date/Time: April 30
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Grand Fork’s Herald published a feature story to announce the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion.
Belpre, OH
Date/Time: April 30
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Ohio Department of Health announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a press release.
Columbus, OH
Date/Time: All week long
Activity: Radio Spot on WCKX Cable TV text messaging.
Description: We had several media campaigns on TV cable channels and the radio. We also did text directed to a specific zip code for a mobile campaign. We also delivered to birthing hospitals in Columbus for tray liners for new mothers with information about vaccines and the scheduled. We also send a one year birthday card to all children born in Columbus to remind them to be up to date on their vaccines.
Contact: Denice Abbot, Director of Project L.O.V.E. and the Influenza Program, Project L.O.V.E. at CPH, Leonard.dsabbot@columbus.gov, or visit https://www.project-love.org/.
Marion, OH
Date/Time: April 18-25 (all day)
Activity: Poster Display in Waiting Rooms.
Description: Poster Display in English and Spanish.
Contact: Leonard Janchar Leonard.Janchar@ohiohealth.com.
Tulsa, OK
Date/Time: April 12th
Activity: Be Wise Immunize at the Tulsa Zoo 2014.
Description: Immunization Event for children 18 years of age and under. Free admission to the Tulsa Zoo for each child immunized at the event THAT day PLUS two accompanying family members. Immunizations available for infants/children through 18 years of age. Child must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian and must bring most current immunization record. Immunizations provided at no charge for those who qualify.* *Eligibility criteria include individuals with Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Community Care, Health Choice, Medicaid or Sooner Care coverage, Native American/Native Alaskan, under-insured or uninsured individuals.
Contact: Kathy Sebert, Coalition Coordinator, Tulsa Area Immunization Coalition, ksebert@tulsa-health.org, or visit https://www.tulsaimmunize.org/.
West Chester, PA
Date/Time: April 26 (11:00 am-2:00 pm)
Activity: Healthy Kids Day.
Description: Outdoor fair sponsored by local YMCA. Table with Immunization display, education materials, and give-a-ways. Also debuted Chester County Immunization Coalition mascot named Chester – Champion Immunization horse.
Contact: Carol Jefferes, Public Health Nurse- Immunizations, Chester County health department cjefferes@chesco.org.
West Chester, PA
Date/Time: April 26
Activity: Coloring Activity for Preschools.
Description: The Coalition offered a coloring activity page to all preschools and Head Starts in our county. On the page was a herd of horses with the slogan, “Join the Herd, Get Vaccinated on Time.” All participating schools were entered in a drawing. The winning school was visited by our Coalition mascot, who read a book and gave each child a book with a health theme. Along with the book, an informational letter about the importance of vaccines was sent home to the parents.
Contact: Michele Steiner cjefferes@chesco.org , or visit https://www.chesco.org/.
Sioux Falls, SD
Date/Time: April 28 (6:56 pm)
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Childhood Immunization Champion recognized in a feature story.
Houston, TX
Date/Time: May 15
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Houston Chronicle recognized the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a feature story.
Houston, TX
Date/Time: April 28-May 2 (Ongoing)
Activity: Social Media Blitz.
Description: We posted on our social media platforms, including our blog, about the importance of immunizing infants.
Contact: Robyn Correll Carlyle, Community Outreach Coordinator, The Immunization Partnership, rcarlyle@immunizeUSA.org , or visit https://www.immunizeusa.org/.
Laredo, TX
Date/Time: April 30 (7:45 am-3:55 pm)
Activity: 2014 Immunization Conference, Professional Training.
Description: 2014 Immunization Conference to provide vaccine-preventable disease training to medical providers and raise awareness of the importance of vaccinating children on time. Educational opportunity for all Texas Vaccine for Children providers, school nurses, pharmacists and other agencies interested on raising awareness about vaccine preventable diseases. Topics include, strategies to encourage parents to immunize, pertussis, influenza, adolescent vaccination, rabies prevention, Texas Health Steps, disease reporting, perinatal hepatitis B prevention.
Contact: Blanca E. Gonzales, Immunization Program Supervisor, City of Laredo Health Department, bgonzalez@ci.laredo.tx.us , or visit https://www.cityoflaredo.com/Health/Healthindex.htm.
Burlington, VT
Date/Time: May 2
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Vermont Department of Health announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion in a press release.
Bremerton, WA
Date/Time: April 30
Activity: Childhood Immunization Champion Award recipient recognized.
Description: Washington State Department of Health announced the state’s Childhood Immunization Champion on the Washington State Department of Health’s Facebook page.
Charleston, WV
Date/Time: April 28 (10 am)
Activity: National Infant Immunization Week (News Conference).
Description: We highlighted NIIW by hold a media event at a Charleston, WV day care center. Present were speakers from the WV Bureau for Public Health, Division of Immunization Services, a pediatrician and a parent who’s daughter contracted pertussis as an infant. About a half-dozen children from the day care center also were in the room. The speakers gave brief remarks and then allowed one-on-one interviews with reporters.
Contact: Sarah Lieu, Public Information Specialist, WV Division of Immunization Services, sarah.m.lieu@wv.gov, or visit https://dhhr.wv.gov/OEPS/IMMUNIZATION/Pages/default.aspx.
Waukesha, WI
Date/Time: May 1
Activity: Immunization Web Quest.
Description: Students access https://dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/index.htm to learn about the importance of immunizing their babies. Also, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ is printed off and we discuss students are encouraged to discuss what they learn with the Father of their baby and also with their parents/guardians.
Contact: Mollie Schubot, Teacher/Coordinator, School Age Parent Program, mschuobt@waukesha.k12.wi.us.