April 22 through 29 is National Infant Immunization Week, an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases.  During that week we also celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States.

Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but also help protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. For children born between 1994 and 2013, vaccination will prevent an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths over the course of their lifetimes.

National Infant Immunization Week provides a great opportunity for expanding your partnerships and leveraging the support of non-immunization groups to promote infant immunization. Our Immunization Program Office has partnered with the Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) for the last 25 years to promote and improve immunization coverage rates in Arizona. This partnership will be celebrated this month at the ADHS 24^th Annual Immunization Conference and the TAPI 25^th Big Shots for Arizona Awards Ceremony.