It’s National Infant Immunization Week: Stay on track with your child’s vaccinations

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 24 – 30, 2022. Each year, NIIW celebrates the critical role vaccination plays in protecting the health of our children and families — and this year we’re reminding parents of the importance of staying up to date with routinely recommended vaccines following disruptions from COVID-19.

As a parent, you want to protect your little one from harm. Vaccinating your child according to the recommended immunization schedule gives him or her the best protection against 14 serious childhood illnesses — like measles and whooping cough — before the age of 2.

[YOUR ORGANIZATION] encourages you to make sure your child is up to date on vaccines by ensuring that they haven’t missed any check-ups. Well-child visits are essential.

You can also review the 2021 easy-to-read immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you’re pregnant, now is a great time to find a doctor for your baby and schedule a visit to discuss any questions you have about vaccines.

For more information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, visit these resources:

The Ultimate Babyproofing Plan: 6 Reasons to Follow CDC’s Immunization Schedule
CDC’s vaccine website for parents and Infant Immunization FAQs
CDC’s series of three 1-minute videos
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, which provides free vaccines to children who qualify
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children websiteexternal icon
Vaccinate Your Familyexternal icon
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Centerexternal icon

If you have questions about vaccines, talk to your child’s doctor.

Bellaire and East Jordan Family Health Centers provides immunizations to all ages.

Call to schedule an appointment!

From Health Department of NW Michigan:

Join the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and communities around the nation in recognizing National Infant Immunization Week April 24-30, 2022. This year, a primary focus of National Infant Immunization Week is to ensure families stay on track for their children’s well-child visits and routinely recommended vaccinations.

National Infant Immunization Week is a time to remind and bring attention to the critical role that vaccinations play in protecting the health of children, families, and communities. Many see vaccine-prevented diseases as a past threat, however, children can still get and spread these diseases. In recent years, Michigan and the nation have seen the return of vaccine-preventable diseases once considered obsolete, such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough.

Before reaching the age of two, immunizations can protect infants and children from 14 vaccine preventable diseases. As a result of the pandemic, vaccination rates for Michigan children ages 19 to 36 months have fallen below 70% in more than half of the state, according to February 2021 data from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR). Below are individual county immunization report cards from December 2021:

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing infectious diseases and death. Among children born during 1994-2018, vaccination will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, 26.8 million hospitalizations, and 936,000 deaths over their lifetimes, according to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

“Our health department continues to make every effort to protect our infants and young children by ensuring they can follow the recommended schedule. Regardless of a client’s insurance status, our health department has the recommended vaccines, and no child will be denied needed immunizations if unable to pay,” said Dr. Joshua Meyerson, Medical Director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “Medical professionals agree that visits for immunizations are essential, and we should work to ensure our families have equitable access to getting recommended vaccinations.”

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan continues to offer immunization appointments to protect infants and children in our communities. Clinics are located in Charlevoix, Boyne City, Bellaire, Mancelona, Gaylord, Petoskey/Harbor Springs, and Pellston. For the schedule of dates and times, click here. For information on financial support programs for immunizations or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-432-4121.