FOR RELEASE: April 11, 2003
CONTACT: Pamela Williams
Office of Communications
405/271-5601

Media Advisory

Kick-Off for National Infant Immunization Week at Day Care Center
Media Please Mark Your Calendars to Attend

What: National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW): April 13-19, 2003
The Oklahoma theme is “I’m Prized. I’m Immunized.”

Who: Assistant U.S. Surgeon General Walt Orenstein, M.D., Director, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Where/When: 1:45 p.m. -- Media Kick-off -- St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Child Development Center, 222 NW 15th; OKC.

Background: Oklahoma’s state immunization program is one of only two programs selected by CDC to receive national attention during NIIW. The kick-off will focus on the need to improve childhood immunization rates and the need to increase the number of infants receiving their 4th dose of DTaP vaccine by their second birthday. There will be a children’s program, Governor’s Proclamation for NIIW, and remarks by Dr. Orenstein to parents and day care staff about the importance of childhood immunizations. The immunization mascots, Scrubby Bear and Elliott the Elephant, will be present to entertain the children.

Other photo/ media opportunities are listed below:

Monday, April 14, Oklahoma City

• 9:30 a.m. – Britton Elementary School, 1215 NW 95th
• 12:00 p.m. – Grand Rounds at OU College of Public Health, 801 NE 13th, Room 150
• 1:45 p.m. – MEDIA KICK-OFF – St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Child Development Center, 222 NW 15th
• 7:00 p.m. – “IMMY” Awards Dinner, Coles Garden, 1415 NE 63rd St (Media and invited guests only)

Tuesday, April 15, Talihina, Poteau and Tulsa

• 9:30 a.m. – Talihina, Choctaw Nation Health Care Center, One Choctaw Way. Official unveiling of the national poster “Protect the Circle of Life; Immunize Our Nations.”
• 12:30 p.m. – Poteau, Carl Albert State College, 1507 South McKenna
• 3:00 p.m. – Tulsa, East Regional Health Center, 5051 South 129th East Avenue
• 6:00 p.m. – Tulsa, Renaissance Hotel, 6808 South 107th East Avenue -- dinner program.

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