Every Child By Two Parent Advocate Receives Childhood Immunization Champion Award

Immunizations can be a matter of life and death, as we learn from this family’s tragic story.

Shot of Prevention

Each year I look over the list of Childhood Immunization Champion Award winners and I am truly inspired.  During National Infant Immunization Week (April 18-25, 2015) the CDC and the CDC Foundation recognizes “Champions” from every state.  While the Champions are often public health professionals, doctors and nurses, being selected as a Champion isn’t just about doing your job.Being a Champion requires an extraordinary effort.  It’s about going above and beyond.  And it’s about promoting childhood immunizations in a way that exemplifies a commitment to change, even in the face of adversity or resistance.

This year I’m proud to say that I know a true Champion, and she is a parent advocate just like many of you.  The truth is that Katie Van Tornhout didn’t need a formal award to be considered a Champion in my eyes, but I’m thrilled to know that her passion and commitment are being…

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Children who can’t be vaccinated have rights, too

What a graciously written article by a mother only motivated by the love of her child!

MOMmunizations

This post originally appeared in The Texas Tribune’s Trib Talk on March 23, 2015. 

Photo by Pan American Health Organization

By Heather Cummings

In 2013 my daughter, Kiera, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Despite her illness, Kiera, who is 5 years old, is a normal kid who wants to do normal kid things. In fact, children with cystic fibrosis are in many ways healthy and normal. They play sports, ride their bikes, have sleepovers and go to school.

But unlike most other children, their health is fragile, and illnesses, particularly serious infections, pose a substantially greater risk to their health.

Like all parents, my husband and I would do anything to protect our child from danger or harm. And while we may want to shelter Kiera from the dangers of the world, we know we can’t protect her from every potential risk.

But I take my responsibility to protect my…

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