 Thousands in the U.S. Suffer from Diseases that Vaccines Can Prevent July 25, 2002
"Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious disease," said Public Health Director Karen Pearson. "August is a great time for Alaskans to focus on immunizations because parents are preparing their children to start school, students are leaving for college and the flu season is approaching." Alaska has devoted considerable effort to improving community health by increasing the immunization levels of two-year old children. By this measure, the State is ranked 26th in the nation today, compared to the state's ranking of 48th in 1996. "This improvement is the result of a partnership between the Alaska Division of Public Health, Alaskan families, federal and local agencies, Native health organizations, and the public and private medical communities," said Jay Livey, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. "I want to thank them all for this solid accomplishment." According to Pearson, immunizations are still important. "Immunization is a significant public health achievement of the 20th century and it's critical as we enter the 21st century. Vaccines eradicated smallpox, and significantly reduced the number of cases of polio, measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis and other diseases. But despite these efforts, thousands of people in the U.S. are not properly vaccinated and as a result, still suffer today from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases," she said. The National Partnership for Immunization created National Immunization Awareness Month to remind parents, adults, caregivers, health care providers and others that immunization improves health and quality of life for persons of all ages in the U.S. For information on vaccine safety, where to get immunizations, school and child care requirements and all other immunizations questions, please call the Alaska Immunization Hotline at 1-888-430-4321, your local health department or other healthcare providers, or Epidemiology: Alaska Immunization Program web site.
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