PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
August 1, 2019

Marcela Ospina Maziarz
Acting Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Department of Health Announces Awardees of Childhood Immunization Campaign in Recognition of National Immunization Awareness Month

In celebration of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), the New Jersey Department of Health announced the awardees of the second annual New Jersey Hot Shots for Tots Immunization Campaign. National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual public health observation during the month of August created to raise awareness about the important role vaccines play in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases across the lifespan.

“Child care facilities play a key role in making sure families are up-to-date on their immunizations,” said Acting Health Commissioner Marcela Ospina Maziarz. “Through the Hot Shots Campaign, collaborative efforts between child care facilities, local health departments, and the state health department demonstrate the steadfast commitment in helping to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases among children.”

The Hot Shots campaign is a voluntary, point-based incentive program that encourages child care facilities to promote immunization best practices and to improve immunization rates. Participating facilities selected from pre-determined immunization-related activities earn points toward reaching one of the three award levels: Gold, Silver, or Bronze. This year, all participants achieved either Gold or Silver status. Each awardee will receive a certificate from the Department to acknowledge their work on this important issue. Below is the list of the 2018-2019 Hot Shots for Tots Immunization Campaign awardees.

 

Gold:              St. Ann’s Child Care Center

                        Little Tree Preschool

                        Holmdel Preschool

                        Hackensack Meridian Early Childhood Education Center

                        Monmouth Daycare

                        Little People at Work Inc.

                        Little Wonders Childcare & Learning Center

                        Farmingdale School

                        Toddler Town

                        Lincroft Center for Children

 

 

Silver:             Give and Take Child Care Center

                        Greenwich Nursery School

                        NORWESCAP Phillipsburg Head Start Fisher Site

                        NORWESCAP Phillipsburg Head Start Roseberry Center

                        John I Dawes Early Learning Center

 

 

In its first year, the campaign was piloted in Monmouth County. The campaign expanded to Atlantic and Warren Counties in 2018-2019. The Department is planning on expanding the campaign statewide this fall. For more information about the campaign, please visit https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/imm_requirements/vpdp_hotshots.shtml.

“In addition to childhood vaccinations, National Immunization Awareness Month reminds us that vaccinations are needed across the lifespan,” said Acting Commissioner Maziarz. “Immunizations are especially important for those who are in close contact with infants, seniors, people with weakened immune systems, and those who cannot be vaccinated because of their age or certain medical conditions.”

More information about vaccines and the recommended immunization schedules for all age groups can be found on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html.

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Last Reviewed: 8/1/2019