Celebrate National Infant Immunization Week

Thanks to lifesaving vaccines, dreaded childhood diseases such as polio, whooping cough, mumps and measles are a distant memory for most people in the United States. But the viruses and bacteria that cause these diseases are still around and can be passed to people who have not been vaccinated.

April 19-26 marks National Infant Immunization Week, a yearly observance that emphasizes the importance of protecting the littlest members of our families from vaccine-preventable diseases. The week gives everyone a chance to celebrate all of the successes of immunization programs and works to ensure that all infants are fully immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases.

This year, hundreds of communities across the United States will also join with nearly 60 other countries in the Western Hemisphere and Europe to celebrate Vaccination Week in the Americas and European Immunization Week. Every community, no matter how large or small, can help reduce and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate National Infant Immunization Week!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has resources for planning National Infant Immunization Week events, including English and Spanish-language materials, sample op-ed articles and facts. Help make more childhood infectious diseases a thing of the past!