WOONSOCKET – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week recognized Rhode Island as one of the best states for childhood immunizations.
Rhode Island has one of the highest immunization rates in the nation, with more than 95 percent of children entering preschools and kindergarten protected against serious vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and polio.
Dr. Melinda Wharton, deputy director of the National Center of Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, presented the award to Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts and Dr. David R. Gifford, the state health director, in a ceremony at the Connecting for Children & Families (CCF) Day Care Center in Woonsocket.
Gifford said child care providers “are one of our most valued partners” in ensuring children have up-to-date vaccinations. “Our success in keeping our state’s children protected from harmful diseases is due in large part to the work they do to educate parents and track children’s immunizations before they enter childcare and while they’re there,” he said.
Following the award ceremony, nurses from Thundermist Health Center and the R.I. Department of Health spoke with parents about the importance of getting children fully vaccinated while providing “shots” for a Teddy Bear Clinic where children could bring their stuffed animals.
The event was held during National Infant Immunization Week, an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases.
For more information about the Teddy Bear Clinic or other CCF programs, call 766-3384 or visit www.ccfcenter.org.
