Opportunity Knocks - April 2014

National Infant Immunization Week

April 26-May 3, 2014

This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). Since 1994 NIIW has raised awareness about the benefits of scheduled immunizations for children aged 2 years and younger against vaccine‐preventable diseases (VPDs).[1] NIIW is a national platform taking place this year from April 26 to May 3 and is designed to:

• Enhance awareness around the dangers of VPDs and the importance of childhood immunizations
  
• Step up efforts to protect children against VPDs through immunizations
  
• Encourage better communication between parents and health care professionals
  
• Remind parents and caregivers they need to make and keep needed immunization appointments for their children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 14 vaccines be administered to children by the age of 2 years.[2] An easy‐to‐read infant immunization schedule is available for download from the CDC website. For employees who are parents of young children, the CDC also offers a host of educational materials and tools to help make the immunization process easier for parents and children. For parents who are uncertain and question the need to vaccinate their children, it is particularly recommended to direct them to this website for more information.

Overall, undervaccination due to missed or delayed immunizations is a distinct trend in the United States.[3,4] Studies have shown that 1 in 3 children are undervaccinated during the first 2 years of life,[3] and that undervaccinated children have more emergency department visits and hospital admissions than appropriately vaccinated children.[4] Therefore, the need to emphasize the importance of pediatric well visits and adherence to vaccination schedules is vital during NIIW, especially given the good possibility that many appointments were cancelled during the series of snowstorms affecting much of the nation this past winter.

In the weeks preceding NIIW (April 26–May 3), it is key that local communities take steps to ensure that children are protected against common VPDs and that parents are well informed.

• Employer coalitions are encouraged to advance the goals of NIIW and begin educating employer members about childhood vaccinations through:
– Reposting this newsletter onto their website
– Downloading NIIW promotional resources and circulating to employer members
– Sending educational materials to employer members to encourage support for immunizing the children of their employees

• Employers can similarly do their part by:
– Generating awareness of NIIW among employees using available promotional resources
- Educating their employees about needed childhood vaccinations and recommended immunization schedules
– Encouraging their employees to schedule and keep well‐child visits to help make sure that children receive immunizations
– Helping employees to better understand pneumococcal vaccines and to assess their children’s risk for pneumococcal infection

Childhood immunizations are an important need that can be easily overlooked. NIIW is an excellent opportunity to stress the importance of childhood immunizations and to encourage all applicable employees to schedule well visits for their children to protect them against diseases that can affect their childhoods.

References
1. NIIW (National Infant Immunization Week). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/overview.html. Updated December 17, 2013. Accessed March 7, 2014.
2. 2014 recommended immunizations for children from birth through 6 years old. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf. Published January 30, 2014. Accessed March 7, 2014.
3. Luman ET, Barker LE, Shaw KM, McCauley MM, Buehler JM, Pickering LK. Timeliness of childhood vaccinations in the United States: days undervaccinated and number of vaccines delayed. JAMA. 2005;293(10):1204‐1211.
4. Glanz JM, Newcomer SR, Narwaney KJ, et al. A population‐‐‐based cohort study of undervaccination in 8 managed care organizations across the United States. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(3):274‐‐‐281.

*Please note that publication in an Opportunity Knocks Newsletter is not meant to be construed as an endorsement of any company, product, or service by NBCH.

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