FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

CONTACT

Lori Maldonado
Deputy director, Communications
303-692-2028

Local Children Join Lt. Governor, Convention Center Blue Bear Mascot and Government Officials to Celebrate Colorado's Improved Immunization Rates

DENVER-Local children and their parents Wednesday joined Lt. Governor Barbara O'Brien, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) representatives, and state and local health officials to celebrate Colorado's improved childhood immunization rates and to launch a year-long media campaign to raise awareness about the importance of immunizing children against disease. At a media event hosted by the Children's Museum of Denver, the Lt. Governor was presented with a national award by CDC recognizing Colorado as the most improved state for immunization rates, moving from 56 percent in 2002 to 78 percent in 2005.

Colorado's chief medical officer, Dr. Ned Calonge, reading to local children at the Children's Museum of Denver.

Dr. Melinda Wharton, deputy director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC and presenter of the award, said, "It's an honor to be here today to recognize the hard work that Colorado has done to improve immunization rates in the state. Parents, health care providers, the Colorado Immunization Program, and local and state immunization partners have all contributed to this success. These efforts have paid off in real progress in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases."

Also at the event, local children helped kick off a childhood immunization campaign developed by the Tri-County Health Department and launched by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, entitled, "Give Your Child A Shot at Success."

Children dressed in campaign T-shirts posed for cameras to reveal Band-aided arms as a sign of pride of getting immunized. They then listened to a storybook reading on germs by the state's chief medical officer, Dr. Ned Calonge, while their parents received information on required immunizations and low-cost immunization clinics.

Jim Martin, executive director of the Department of Public Health and Environment, thanked the many partners who helped to improve the state's immunization rates. He said, "Not so long ago, Colorado was 50th in the nation. Today, we are able to celebrate moving up to 16th place because of your hard work and collaboration. However, we must not get too comfortable with our improved rates, but must continue this good work to keep Colorado communities and Colorado kids healthy."

Martin explained the Department of Public Health and Environment launched the media campaign this week, which is National Infant Immunization Week (April 23-27), to keep the momentum going on the importance of immunizations.

He explained that 25,000 English and 25,000 Spanish wallet cards and brochures with information about required immunizations and where to find low-cost immunization clinics are being distributed statewide to local health departments, public health nurses, day-care centers, health care providers and county birth certificate offices.

In addition, radio and television public service announcements that feature parents promising to vaccinate their children began airing this week. The public service announcements, provided by the CDC, will run throughout the year.

Parents interested in obtaining information about low-cost immunization clinics should call 1-877-462-2911 or visit www.immunizecoloradoskids.org.

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