(NEWARK) March 30, 2001 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has selected Newark as the host site for National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), scheduled for April 22-28, 2001. The week is an annual observance that highlights the importance of administering timely immunizations to children, particularly those under age two.

"Newark was selected to host National Infant Immunization Week 2001 because of its great diversity, as well as its commitment to increasing the city's immunization rates among children," said Walter Orenstein, MD, director, CDC, National Immunization Program. The theme of NIIW 2001, "Don't Wait…Vaccinate!," emphasizes the necessity to raise awareness among parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, and the community to ensure that all children receive age-appropriate immunizations. According to the CDC, communities with under-immunized children risk epidemic outbreaks of preventable infectious diseases, such as measles and polio. The CDC 1999 National Immunization Survey listed Newark as having fully immunized approximately 68.7 percent of the city's children ages 19-35 months. The 1999 immunization rate for this age group in New Jersey as a whole was 81 percent and it was 80 percent for the nation.

The Newark Immunization Initiative (NII) is coordinating NIIW 2001. NII is a coalition of hospitals, community-based organizations, managed care providers, businesses, and local and state government agencies that was established in 1999 to increase Newark's immunization rates. The NII sponsors a speakers bureau, conducts workshops for healthcare and daycare providers, and encourages eligible individuals to enroll in NJ FamilyCare to obtain a primary care physician.

Activities for the week include a kickoff breakfast for legislative officials, a health officers' conference, and an immunization conference for healthcare providers. (All activities are listed under separate cover in this packet.) In addition, a nationwide Spanish-language media campaign will be inaugurated during the week. The campaign will include video news releases, posters, and radio and television public service announcements. With under-immunization a problem in the country's growing Hispanic community, the separate media campaign is designed to reflect language, cultural and ethnic issues unique to the Hispanic community.

For more information, contact Jane Sarwin, 973.268.2287.