*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
1994.04.14 : Shalala Announces Immunization Week and New Outreach Campaign

Contact:  PHS/CDC Press Office  
Thursday, April 14, 1994                     (404) 639-3286
                                             PHS Press Office
                                             (202) 690-6867


         SHALALA ANNOUNCES IMMUNIZATION WEEK AND NEW
                       OUTREACH CAMPAIGN 


     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced that April 23-29
will be National Infant Immunization Week, and she said a national
outreach campaign for immunization will be launched during the week.

     The new outreach campaign is part of President Clinton's
broader Childhood Immunization Initiative, aimed at ensuring that
American children receive the vaccinations they need during their
first two years of life.

     "Our Childhood Immunization Initiative recognizes the
importance of reaching out actively to parents to make sure they
know when and where to immunize their children," Secretary Shalala
said.  "America's immunization rate is embarrassingly low for
children in the first years of life.  Infant Immunization Week is
the right time to launch a new campaign to bring together resources
from every sector to get our young children immunized."

     In hundreds of communities throughout the country, public and
private sector organizations will be carrying out special 
immunization activities during the week.  

     Shalala called on media to "give plenty of attention to these
local events and use this time to get immunization facts to our
young parents."     (See "Note to Editors.")           

     Events during the week will include free visits to immunization
clinics and other activities.

     The new national outreach campaign, supported by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, aims at better coordination of
local resources as well as enlisting national organizations and
corporations in the immunization effort.  CDC will place an outreach
coordinator in each of the nation's 10 federal regions, and regional
meetings will also be convened to bring together ideas, information
and resources.

     Toll-free information services will refer callers to local
immunization providers and make available prerecorded information in
English and Spanish.


                              - More -
                                - 2 -


     In addition, outreach to health care professionals will be
increased to ensure that they do not miss opportunities to vaccinate
infants and preschoolers.

     The national outreach campaign is one of five elements in the
new Childhood Immunization Initiative.  The new initiative was
authorized by legislation signed by President Clinton last August. 
Other elements of the initiative include improving vaccination
delivery services, especially by expanding the availability of
clinics; reducing vaccine costs for parents, improving systems to
monitor diseases and vaccinations, and improving vaccines.

     The president's budget proposal for FY 1995 includes a total of
$1.01 billion for child immunization, up from $813 million in FY
1994 and $599 million in FY 1993.  The FY 1995 proposal includes a
42 percent increase for vaccine purchase (to $507 million) and a 28
percent increase for funding of service delivery improvements (to
$209 million).
                              ###

[NOTE TO EDITORS:  To assist your local coverage, information on local
immunization activities throughout the country can be obtained from the CDC. 
Call the CDC Press Office at (404) 639-3286 for information about activities in
your area.]

[A factsheet on the Childhood Immunization Initiative is also available from the
CDC or the Public Health Service press office.]