Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: April 25, 2008

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

Rhode Island is among the best states in America when it comes to immunizing our children. Today in Woonsocket at the Connecting for Children & Families (CCF) Day Care Center at 3:00 Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH will accept an award for Rhode Island’s successes from Dr. Melinda Wharton, Deputy Director of the National Center of Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

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.

“Childcare providers are one of our most valued partners in ensuring that children’s vaccinations are up-to-date,” said Dr. Gifford. “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.”

Terese Curtin, Executive Director of CCF stated, “CCF is thrilled to host this celebration which focuses on a highly successful statewide initiative.  Immunizing children has always been a priority of our work at the grassroots level.  We’re proud to be a partner in this event.”

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. Other National Infant Immunization Week events sponsored by HEALTH include: speaking to pediatricians at the RI Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Grand Rounds at Hasbro Children’s Hospital; and speaking at the annual School Nurse Teachers Conference.

Connecting for Children & Families’ mission is to improve the quality of family and community life in Woonsocket.  Services include quality child care for children 6 weeks-12 years old, parent support programs, emergency assistance, after school enrichments for elementary and middle school students, and community safety initiatives.  For more information about the Teddy Bear Clinic or other CCF programs, call 766-3384 or visit us on the web at www.ccfcenter.org.