{"id":10479,"date":"2021-01-08T12:41:28","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T17:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/?page_id=10479"},"modified":"2026-04-20T08:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T12:05:38","slug":"press-releases","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/press-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"Press Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"
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RHHD Highlights the Importance of Infant Immunization 2026<\/h1> <\/header>\n\n \n
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: <\/span><\/b>April 20, 2026<\/span>
\nMedia Contact:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727,\u00a0<\/span>bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RHHD\u00a0Highlights the Importance of Infant Immunization<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

National Infant Immunization Week is April 20-27<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RICHMOND, Va.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u2014 The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD)\u00a0encourage parents\u00a0and guardians\u00a0to\u00a0make sure that\u00a0children two years and younger\u00a0are\u00a0immunized against vaccine-preve<\/span>ntable diseases.\u00a0On-time vaccination is critical to provide protection against\u00a0these\u00a0potentially life-threatening\u00a0disease<\/span>s.\u00a0<\/span>National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is April 20-27.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe\u00a0rise of\u00a0vaccine-preventable diseases\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0country and in the Commonwealth of Virginia should concern us all,\u201d\u00a0said Richmond and Henrico Health\u00a0Districts\u00a0Director Dr. Elaine Perry.\u00a0\u201cOnce\u00a0eliminated\u00a0in the US, there\u00a0<\/span>have now been 17\u00a0confirmed\u00a0cases\u00a0of\u00a0measles\u00a0in Virginia\u00a0in\u00a02026.\u00a0<\/span>Infant\u00a0and\u00a0child\u00a0immunization\u00a0against diseases like measles\u00a0gives\u00a0parents and guardians\u00a0powerful tools\u00a0that can help\u00a0protect\u00a0one of our most vulnerable populations from\u00a0serious\u00a0illness and death.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia Childhood Immunization Requirements<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, public and private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrolling in school. These\u00a0vaccines should be given based on\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2026 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule<\/span><\/a>. Parents\u00a0and guardians\u00a0can view the\u00a0Virginia\u00a0childhood vaccine schedule on the\u00a0<\/span>VDH website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to get infants immunized<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Families without health insurance or who are enrolled in Medicaid can visit<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>rhhd.gov\/connect-pc<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to find pediatric care providers.\u00a0Families with private insurance may schedule appointments with their child\u2019s pediatrician, a local pharmacy, or one of RHHD\u2019s\u00a0community partners.\u00a0For more information, parents and guardians can visit\u00a0<\/span>rhhd.gov\/childhoodvax<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RHHD offers childhood immunization appointments at its\u00a0<\/span>Cary Street<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Henrico East<\/span><\/a>, and\u00a0<\/span>Henrico West<\/span><\/a>, clinics. Parents and guardians can call 804-205-3501 to make an appointment. Bilingual-in-Spanish staff is available at all locations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia Vaccines for Children (VVFC) providers offer free immunizations to children (younger than 19 years of age) who are uninsured or underinsured; Medicaid-eligible or Medicaid-enrolled; and\/or American Indian or Alaska Native. Families can search for a VVFC provider near them using\u00a0<\/span>rhhd.gov\/vfc<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Infant Immunization Studies<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

A\u00a02024<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>study<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>published in\u00a0The Lancet\u00a0looked at the effect of the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Expanded Programme\u00a0on Immunization<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(EPI), which was launched in\u00a01974 to\u00a0improve global access to life-saving vaccines.\u00a0The study found that, since 1974,\u00a0vaccination\u00a0saved 154 million lives, including 146 million among children younger than 5 years, and\u00a0101 million\u00a0infants younger than 1 year.\u00a0Measles vaccination accounted for 93.7 million lives saved (60.8%) of the 154 million total lives saved over this 50-year period. Measles vaccination was the single greatest driver of lives saved by vaccination, across all years in every region and all\u00a0<\/span>World Bank income strata<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

National Infant Immunization Week<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is a yearly observance held in April, highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases.\u00a0The\u00a0Virginia Department of Health and the\u00a0American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that children stay on track with their well-child appointments and routine vaccinations.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow RHHD on Instagram at\u00a0<\/span>@richmondcity_hd<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>. For more health and safety information, visit\u00a0<\/span>rhhd.gov<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

rhhd.gov<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span>henrico.gov\/health<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span>RHHD Facebook<\/span><\/a>\u00a0| IG:\u00a0<\/span>@richmondcity_hd<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t