Miami Children's Hospital’s Division of Preventive Medicine in collaboration with the National Vaccine for Children Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health celebrate National Infant Immunization Week April 24-30, 2005. Miami Children's Health-on-Wheels program will be administering free immunizations in three locations to all children from ages 0 to 21.
WHERE / WHEN:
Monday, April 18
Miami Children's Hospital Main Campus
3100 SW 62nd Ave., Miami
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19
Miami Children’s Hospital South Dade Center
17615 SW 97th Ave, Perrine (US Highway 1 and Franjo Road)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 20
Miami Children's Hospital OK FINE Program at the Overtown Youth Center
450 NW 14th Street, Overtown
2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Parents are asked to bring their child’s immunization records. Appointments are preferred by calling (305) 663-6853, but walk-ins are welcome. Please look for the multicolored Health-On-Wheels Mobile Unit.
WHY
In the first 24 months of life children need more than 80 percent of their vaccinations to protect them from diseases, disabilities and death. Each year new and improved vaccines and ways to combine them are developed. Nearly 1 million children in the United States are not adequately immunized. Each day 11,000 children are born in the US and they are in need of protection from twelve vaccine preventable diseases before the age of two. Serious and deadly diseases like Pertussis (Whooping Cough) are in the rise and can be prevented through vaccinations which remain the most effective mean of prevention against communicable diseases in children. Immunizations are safe and protect our children, families and community, making them one of our most important public health strategies.
Media are welcome.