CONTACT: Stephanie Smiley, (608) 266-5862

WISCONSIN CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION CHAMPION HONORED

National Infant Immunization Week is April 21-28

MADISON—During National Infant Immunization Week, state officials are recognizing Wisconsin’s Childhood Immunization Champion, Dr. Margaret Hennessy, who received the award last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation.

Dr. Hennessy received the award for providing immunization information to nearly 400 physician practices in southeast Wisconsin through her work on Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s Immunization Task Force. She also founded the Racine County Immunization Coalition, which brings together medical personnel from the county’s major medical centers with school and county health department nurses to work on immunization topics. She works as a physician with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.

“We congratulate Dr. Hennessy for her leadership and her tireless efforts to bring healthcare professionals together to ensure that Wisconsin infants are vaccinated against the many preventable diseases,” said Karen McKeown, Division of Public Health Administrator. “Champions like Dr. Hennessy help protect children’s lives and health and reduce the threat of these diseases.”

National Infant Immunization Week is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities nationwide. This is the first year for the CDC’s Childhood Immunization Champion Awards program.

For information on Wisconsin’s Immunization Program: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/.

To view a profile of Dr. Hennessy: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/champions/profiles.html#W. 

To learn more about National Infant Immunization Week: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/overview.html.

# # #

Last Revised:  April 24, 2012