Fargo Cass Public Health is observing National Infant Immunization Week.
The awareness campaign runs from April 27 through May 4. Jessica Leitsch is immunization coordinator, as well as a registered nurse. She says the annual observance of National Infant Immunization Week highlights the positive impacts of vaccination on the lives of infants and children. She says within the first year of their lives, children are vaccinated for a variety of diseases.
"Infant immunizations include hepatitis B, rotovirus, DTAP, HIB, pneumonia and polio."
Lietsch says keeping vaccination rates high helps create "herd immunity," which protects vulnerable patients from contracting diseases. She says as a health care professional, she advises parents and families to speak to their health care providers about vaccines instead of looking them up on the internet.