National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is April 24 – May 1, 2021. Each year, NIIW focuses on the positive impact of vaccination on the lives of infants and children — and this year a priority is to ensure that families stay on track for routine checkups and vaccinations, even during COVID-19. During NIIW, the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department reminds you to schedule your children’s routine well-child visits and vaccination appointments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend children continue to attend well-child appointments and receive recommended vaccinations during the pandemic. As in-person learning and play become more common, following the recommended childhood immunization schedule is even more urgent to help provide immunity against potentially life-threatening diseases, such as measles. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people, which is why it is so important to protect children through on-time vaccination.
You can review the 2021 easy-to-read immunization schedule recommended by the CDC. If you are pregnant, now is a great time to find a doctor for your baby and schedule a visit to discuss any questions you have about vaccines
The federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) program can assist uninsured and underinsured families by providing vaccines free of charge to qualifying children. Make sure your babies are up-to-date with their immunizations by calling your doctor’s office. You may also call the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department to obtain copies of immunization records at 315-386-2325.
For more information about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, visit these resources:
- CDC’s vaccine website for parents and Infant Immunization FAQs
- The Ultimate Babyproofing Plan: 6 Reasons to Follow CDC’s Immunization Schedule
- The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children website
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