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For Immediate Release
Date: April 15, 2015
Contact: Leslie Piotrowski
(847) 377-8055
Carolyn Waller
(847) 377-8099
National Infant
Immunization Week (NIIW), April 18 – 25, is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants
from vaccine-preventable diseases. In
observance of this week, the Lake County Health Department/Community Health
Center is reminding parents about the importance of following the recommended
immunization schedule to protect their infants and children.
“Over the years, vaccines have drastically reduced infant death and
disability,” said Tony Beltran, the Health Department’s Executive Director. “In
the 1950's, nearly every child developed measles, and unfortunately, some even
died from this serious disease. Today, many practicing physicians have never
seen a case of measles.”
Vaccine-preventable diseases still circulate in the United States. Fifteen cases of measles have thus far been
reported in Cook County this year. While no measles cases have been reported in
Lake County yet in 2015, the Health Department’s infectious disease programs have
increased their prevention efforts. The
Department held two measles vaccination clinics in connection with an outbreak
in Palatine to assure that residents are immunized.
The Health Department’s Immunizations Program works to prevent the spread
of illness by vaccinating adults and children for protection against a wide
variety of diseases. These diseases can be especially serious for infants and
young children. Last year, the program provided more than 9,400 vaccinations to
babies up to 2 years of age and more than 10,000 to children between 2 and 18
years of age. The program primarily offers
immunizations through the Vaccines for Children’s program, a federally funded
program that provides vaccinations at no cost to children whose parents cannot
afford to pay for them.
For the 2015 recommended immunizations for children from birth through age 6,
visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child.html.
“Vaccines not only help protect
vaccinated individuals, but also help protect entire communities by preventing
and reducing the spread of infectious diseases,” said Beltran. “Among children
born during 1994-2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million
illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths over the course of
their lifetimes.”
Immunizations are available by appointment only at the Health Department’s
Immunizations Clinic, 2303 Dodge Avenue in Waukegan. The clinic is open Monday
through Friday and on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. For more information or to make an
appointment, call: (847) 377-8470 or visit:
http://health.lakecountyil.gov/Population/Pages/Immunizations.aspx.
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