The CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award

The CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award is a new annual award given jointly by CDC and the CDC Foundation to recognize individuals who make a significant contribution toward improving public health through their work in childhood immunization.

Each year, up to one CDC Childhood Immunization Champion from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia will be honored.

Award recipients for the inaugural year were announced during National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 21-28, 2012.

Learn about the 2012 Champions.

 

The Role of Champions

Young children rely on the champions in their lives to keep them safe and healthy.

Those champions may be parents who keep a record of their child’s vaccinations and ask at each doctor appointment whether their child is up-to-date on immunizations. And, those champions may also be doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals who ensure that the children in their care receive all the recommended vaccines.

The CDC Childhood Immunization Champions are an inspiration to everyone who cares about children’s health. CDC and the CDC Foundation are pleased to recognize the recipients of the award for the special contributions they have made through their work in childhood immunization.

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Award Criteria

A CDC Childhood Immunization Champion is an individual who meets one or more of the following criteria: 

• Has provided community leadership on immunization issues and collaborated with others to build support for and increase immunization rates of infants and young children
• Has used creative and/or innovative strategies to promote infant and young child immunization and meet unique immunization challenges within their community, state or region, including, for example, reaching hard-to-reach or under-immunized populations
• Has been a visible immunization champion in a community and/or medical system by acting as a spokesperson, advocate, and/or educator
• Has been an advocate for immunization policy advancements

 

Spirit of the Award

The Champion Award is intended to recognize individuals who are working at the community level. It honors those who are doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster childhood immunizations in their communities.

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Selection Process

Nominations were submitted directly to the state Immunization Program. State Immunization Program Managers were responsible for reviewing and evaluating nominees and recommending one individual to be the Childhood Immunization Champion for their state. CDC reviewed and confirmed states’ recommendations and will issue awards.

 

2012 CDC Childhood Immunization Champions

CDC and the CDC Foundation announced the awards in conjunction with National Infant Immunization Week, April 21-28, 2012.

Learn about the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award recipients.

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