Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Immunization Week For Infants Has Been Set For April 20-26

National Infant Immunization Week is April 20-26.

Parents and caregivers would gladly lay down their lives if it would save our kids from unnecessary suffering, according to Janet Huckabee, Arkansas' First Lady and honary chair of Operation KidCare.

Yet many of us neglect to take measures to protect them that are much less drastic, she says. "Our children face dangers to their health that can maim and cripple, and all we need to do to reduce their risk is have them properly immunized. It doesn't take much to protect our kids from life threatening diseases like diphhtheria, measles, mumps, tetanus, hepatitis B, polio, rubella, pertussis and H-flu meningitis," Mrs. Huckabee said.

The message -- a simple vaccination schedule starting at 2, 4, 6 and 12 to 15 months is all that's required -- should be shared all year, not just next week, she urged.

Getting your child immunized makes a profound difference in whether they grow up healthy or plagued with hearing, vision or motor skills problems, many of which will follow them throughout their lives.

In Clark county, 92.9 percent of children below the age of two are age-appropriately immunized. That means 7.1 percent of the kids in the county are at risk for contracting and spreading dangerous diseases, she said in a news release.

In 1995, it was 22.0 percentage at risk. "We're making progress," she said, "but we haven't reached the goal of NO CHILDREN AT RISK."

Parents should see that their children have the full series of immunizations age 2, 4, 6 and 12-15 months. All local health units provide shots, and no one is denied due to inability to pay.

Everyone should remember that unless kids get the appropriate shots on a regular schedule, they remain at risk.

Civic groups may call Operation KidCare at 1-800-235-0002 and request a Speakers Kit that includes a video and speeches.

Communities are encouraged to ask for brochures and posters concerning immunizations for infants and place them in high-visibility locations throughout the area.

Mrs. Huckabee urges healthcare providers to give patients the Operation KidCare Check-up Checkbook with coupons for free and discounted items as an incentive for regular immunization visits.

Operation KidCare is sponsored by Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas Children's Hospital and St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center.