Infant Immunization Week April 23-30

National Immunization Week is April 23rd to the 30th this year, and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is taking a different approach. Guillermo Cole, spokesman for ACHD says that the target is on adults around newborn infants. "It's especially important for adults to keep their own immunizations up to date and to promote adult immunization during Infant Immunization Week." One way they are spreading awareness is by teaming up with the Allegheny County Immunization Coalition and giving new mothers gift bags in hospitals. "These gift bags will have not only useful items for a newborn but also information reminding parents of the benefits of child immunization and a voucher that's redeemable at our Health Department's Immunization Clinic for an adult family member to receive a free dose of Tdap vaccine," says Cole. Tdap is a vaccine that protects again tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough. Cole says that whooping cough and influenza are the most common diseases that parents pass on to their children.