Dr. Cohen also noted that there is a new hepatitis B immunization requirement for 7th grade students in New York City that will be put into effect in September 2000. Based upon recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee of the Public Health Service, this fall, all 7th graders in public or private schools must have three doses of hepatitis B vaccine to attend school. Hepatitis B vaccine is already mandated for infants born after January 1993. With regular visits to the doctor or clinic and a full schedule of vaccinations, parents help their children avoid the dangers of potentially severe illnesses such as measles, diphtheria, polio, and others. Calls in other languages can be accessed through the hotline.
Callers can receive referrals for immunization and primary healthcare.
One of our most important public health goals is to ensure that children are linked to primary care doctors. Vaccines for Children, a federally-funded program, which makes free vaccines available to physicians for children who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid. The Immunization Action Plan, which supports immunization efforts through public education, community outreach, and partnerships. National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance initiated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reinforce the need for age-appropriate vaccinations of children to prevent serious childhood diseases.