Title...
Proclamation designating the month of August 2014 as "Immunization Awareness Month" in Allegheny County.
Body...
WHEREAS, each year, children, adolescents and adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications; and
WHEREAS the burden of vaccine-preventable disease occurs in Pennsylvania among people of all cultures, races and ethnic and societal groups; and
WHEREAS safe and effective vaccines are readily available to protect against disease, disability and death from communicable diseases, including diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, influenza, measles, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, pneumococcal disease, polio, rubella, tetanus and varicella; and
WHEREAS, the Allegheny County Health Department, Infectious Disease Division provides adult, childhood and travel vaccinations, and the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition (ACIC) is a growing alliance of physicians, pharmacists, teachers, human services workers and community members interested in promoting immunizations for healthy communities; and
WHEREAS every August, the National Immunization Awareness Month campaign is devoted to increasing public knowledge, acceptance and use of vaccines to protect individuals against serious and sometimes deadly diseases;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council does hereby proclaim August as "Immunization Awareness Month" in Allegheny County. We urge parents, young people and adults to make sure that they and their loved ones are up-to-date on their immunizations, and we thank the Allegheny County Health Department and the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition for working to protect our community from preventable diseases.