National Infant Immunization Week

April 19-26, 2008

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. Since 1994, NIIW has served as a call to action for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure that infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases. This year NIIW will be held April 19-26, 2008.

Additionally, the National Immunization for Polio Prevention in Infants and Toddlers - or "NIPP IT" Campaign is being highlighted during this week. NIPP IT promotes immunization of all children against polio at two months of age, four months of age, six months of age, and a booster at four years of age. The NIPP IT theme is, “Don't wait to vaccinate!” Visit the NIPP IT informational website at: http://www.englewoodhospital.com/medservices.cfm?pageid=622&bc=0,27,145

Vaccination plays a critical role in safeguarding public health globally. During NIIW 2008, hundreds of communities across the United States will join those in the Western Hemisphere and Europe to celebrate Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) and European Immunization Week. Over sixty countries around the world will participate.

Three states—Washington, Rhode Island, and Connecticut—will host special NIIW kick-off events. Additionally, bi-national events are being planned along the United States - Mexico border in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the US-Mexico Border Health Commission (USMBHC), state and local health departments, and other immunization partners. They will be joined by hundreds of communities from across the United States in celebrating NIIW through community awareness, healthcare provider education, and media events to promote infant immunizations.

Visit the CDC's NIIW website for more information and communication tools.

If you are planning an NIIW 2008 activity, large or small, we would like to hear from you! 

NIIW Posters

Posters are Adobe Acrobat files under 500 KB and open in new window

• Vaccination is one of the most important ways a parent can protect their child's health.
• Love and protect our children by vaccinating them on time, every time.
• The promise is great for a world where all children have a chance for a healthy start to life.
• Vaccines are one of history's most successful tools for preventing serious disease and death.
• Parents and healthcare providers must work together to ensure that all children are fully immunized.