Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: April 23, 2008

CDC Presents Rhode Island With Award for Childhood Immunization Rates; Teddy Bear Clinic for Kids Highlights Importance of Vaccination

Friday, April 25, 2008
3:00 p.m.
Connecting for Children & Families Child Care Center
46 Hope Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895

For the past decade, Rhode Island has had some of the highest childhood immunization rates in the country. More than 95% of Rhode Island children entering preschools and Kindergarten are protected against serious vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella and polio. On Friday, April 25, Lieutenant Governor, Elizabeth Roberts and Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH will accept an award for Rhode Island’s accomplishments from Dr. Melinda Wharton, Deputy Director of the National Center of Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Directly following the award ceremony, nurses from Thundermist Health Center and the Department of Health will speak with parents about the importance of getting children fully vaccinated while providing “shots” for a Teddy Bear Clinic, where children can bring their favorite stuffed animals to get check-ups and immunizations.

The event will be held during National Infant Immunization Week, an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases.