The Ohio Department of Health is sharing information on infant immunizations amid the nationally recognized awareness week.

It’s National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)! NIIW is a yearly observance highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). It’s also a time to showcase the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. NIIW 2020 is celebrated April 25-May 2.

These major achievements highlight controlling vaccine-preventable diseases among infants and young children worldwide, according to the Ohio Department of Health:

• 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.

In Ohio, the goal of the (ODH) Immunization Program is to reduce and eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases among Ohio’s children, adolescents and adults.  The Immunization Program provides the following services:

• Administers the Vaccines for Children Program;
• Developed and maintains the state wide immunization registry;
• Provides grants to improve immunization levels and vaccine use;
• Offers a wide range of training, education and technical support to health departments
  and health care providers;
• Provides vaccine to birthing hospitals to emphasize the importance of hepatitis B prevention;
• Works with health care providers to prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable
  diseases and improve immunization rates.

Learn more about the ODH Immunization program here: https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Immunization/Immunization

NIIW is a great time to learn about the vaccines your baby needs! Visit CDC’s site to learn about the 14 diseases vaccines prevent, view the latest immunization schedule, and get tips on how to comfort your baby during vaccine visits: https://go.usa.gov/xEspJ.