A Celebration of Connecticut's Immunization Champions

An event held by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the Connecticut Commission on Children, and the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics on April 23, 2008, at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Event documents | Photos | Links

Overview

Every year since 1996, Connecticut has ranked in the top five states in the nation for on-time childhood immunizations. In 2006, it achieved a coverage rate of 82 percent for basic immunization among children 19 to 35 months of age. That was the third-highest rate among the 50 states and well above the national average of 77 percent.

Because of such consistently high numbers, officials of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traveled to Hartford on April 23, 2008, to honor the state. The state, in turn, honored 16 "champions" -- doctors, nurses, office managers, and Immunization Action Plan (IAP) coordinators from across Connecticut who worked especially hard to ensure good health for our children.

The event was sponsored by the state Department of Public Health (DPH), the Commission on Children, and the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was held in conjunction with National Infant Immunization Week, April 19-26.

Event documents

A genda (PDF)
Press release (PDF)
Biographical sketch of Dr. Melinda Wharton, deputy director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (PDF)
Dr. Wharton's PowerPoint presentation
Biographical sketch of Dr. Ronald Angoff, president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PDF
Other events held in Connecticut to mark National Infant Immunization Week, April 19-26 (PDF)
Five Reasons to Immunize, a CDC handout (PDF)
Event flyer (PDF)

Photos

Click to enlarge. All photos by Pat Estill.

Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr. (left) and House Speaker James A. Amann accept a plaque from Dr. Melinda Wharton, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Dr. Wharton with, from left, Vincent Sacco, immunization program manager for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and Dr. Ronald Angoff, president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., welcomes Dr. Wharton and the immunization "champions."

Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams Jr. reads a citation as Commission on Children Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman (center) and Special Projects Director Patricia Estill look on.

Paige Woodruff, RN, of the Community Health Center of New London, is congratulated by: from left, Dr. Angoff, state Representative Peggy Sayers of Windsor Locks, who co-chairs the legislature's Public Health Committee; and Dr. Wharton.

Elaine Braccia, RN, receives congratulations from Representative Sayers and Dr. Wharton, on the left, and Representative Christel H. Truglia of Stamford, at right.

Elizabeth Green accepts a citation on behalf of Pediatric & Adolescent Healthcare, P.C., in Ansonia.

Danielle DaSilva, accepting on behalf of Brooklyn Family Medicine, receives congratulations from Dr. Wharton and Senator Williams.

Gail Crane, RN, accepts on behalf of the Franklin Medical Children's Health Center of Waterbury. She receives congratulations from, left to right, Dr. Angoff, Representative Sayers, and Dr. Wharton.

Martine Quick, medical assistant for the Willows Pediatric Group of Westport, looks on as state Representative Joseph S. Mioli of Westport reads her citation.

Dr. Rob Dudley, accepting on behalf of the Community Health Center of New Britain, receives congratulations from Representative Mioli, Commission on Children Chair Emerita Laura Lee Simon, and Dr. Angoff.

Dr. Sophia Grant of Litchfield County Pediatrics in Torrington receives congratulations from, left to right, Representative Mioli, Ms. Simon, Dr. Angoff, Representative Sayers, and Dr. Wharton.

Dr. Jayashree Venkatesh, accepting on behalf of East Hartford Pediatrics, receives congratulations from Representative Mioli, Representative Truglia, and Ms. Simon.

Lesley Solkoske, APRN, accepts on behalf of the Pediatric Center at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

Linda Pettinicchi, accepting on behalf of Milford Pediatrics, looks on as Senator Williams reads the citation.

Marina Rizio, birth registrar at Saint Vincent Hospital in Bridgeport, poses with immunization action plan coordinator Joan Lane (at left) before receiving her citation.

Dr. William A. Bauman and Dr. Veronica Ron relax after receiving a citation on behalf of the Pediatric Health Center of Danbury.