Release #170-98

Contact: Colleen Roche/Brenda Pérez (212) 788-2958
Sandy Mullin, DOH (212) 788-5290
Jane Zimmerman, Ph.D. HHC (212) 788-3339

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed April as Infant Immunization Month in New York City and reminded parents about the importance of immunizing their young children. Through the efforts of the Child Vaccination Program, a partnership between New York City, the Children's Defense Fund and The Chase Manhattan Bank, the entire month of April is dedicated to promoting immunization with the theme "Don't Wait -- Vaccinate."

"The most important gift that we, as parents, can give our children is the chance to grow up healthy. As a father, I know that childhood immunization is absolutely vital in preventing many serious infectious diseases," Mayor Giuliani said. "While New York City has increased the number of vaccinations given to young people each year, we must continue to promote the importance of comprehensive childhood vaccination and to reduce the risk of any child contracting diseases that are entirely preventable."

The Mayor reminded parents that the City's Immunization Hotline -- (212) 676-2273 -- is available Monday through Friday, from 9 AM - 5 PM.

Joining the Mayor were Dr. Rosa Gil, the Mayor's Special Advisor for Health Policy; Dr. Neal L. Cohen, Health and Mental Health Commissioner; Dr. Luis Marcos, President of the Health and Hospitals Corporation; Donna Lawrence, Executive Director of the Children's Defense Fund; and Janice Schoos, Assistant Vice President for Philanthropic Services at The Chase Manhattan Bank. Also in attendance were children from the Finest Child Care Center.

Dr. Rosa Gil added, "Immunizations are safe and effective and help to protect children against serious childhood diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella. Community health providers throughout New York City can play an important role in raising immunization rates."

Health Commissioner Dr. Neal L. Cohen thanked the City's partners at the Children's Defense Fund and The Chase Manhattan Bank for their long-standing effort to raise awareness and promote vaccination of City children.

"One of our most important goals is to ensure that children are linked to primary care doctors," Commissioner Cohen said. "This link is the best way to guarantee that children get the vaccinations they need. The far-reaching efforts by the Child Vaccination Program are helping New York City to achieve this goal."

In 1997, the Child Vaccination Program distributed more than 110,000 pieces of immunization and educational literature to families throughout New York City and sponsored health fairs, health forums, and free vaccination days for New York City's children.

Other immunization accomplishments in New York City include:

• the development of the Immunization Registry, which contains the records of more than one million children and over 5 million immunizations. Approximately 70 percent of New York City children age two and under are now in the registry;
• for school year 1996-1997, the immunization rate for children who entered the school system for the first time was 92 percent;
• a Citywide initiative to immunize 20,000 eighth-graders in public and private schools against Hepatitis B;
• the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program conducts surveillance at more than 52 New York City hospitals to ensure that newborns, particularly those at risk, receive the three dose schedule of Hepatitis B vaccine;
• in FY 1997, more than 60,000 doses of vaccine were administered to children and young adults (ages 4 - 19) at the seven Department of Health walk-in Immunization Clinics;
• more than 18,000 doses of influenza vaccine were administered at over 250 senior centers in New York City.