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WASHINGTON, Apr 25, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Sunday kicked off National Infant Immunization Week, an annual event now in its second decade aimed at boosting pediatric vaccinations in the United States.
Also, for the second year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is partnering with the Pan American Health Organization, the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission and more than 35 other nations to sponsor Vaccination Week in the Americas.
Events this week try to reach out to parents, caregivers, health care providers, and communities throughout the Western Hemisphere to highlight the need for routine infant vaccinations.
"We can now protect children from more vaccine preventable diseases than ever before," said Dr. Stephen Cochi, acting director of the National Immunization Program for the CDC. "Millions of children have been vaccinated, and millions of cases of disease, disability and death have been prevented."
Last month, CDC officials announced vaccination efforts had successfully controlled rubella, to the point where it no longer was a major health threat to expectant mothers and their unborn children.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
