Welcome
The Child and Maternal Health Committee provides immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improves access to essential medical services, and supports trained health care providers for mothers and their children. Our projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of health care training programs. At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation.
Chair: Nan Jarvis, johnnan@comcast.net
Childhood Immunization Initiative
Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective public health interventions in history. Colorado ranks 9th among the states for the highest rates of vaccine exemptions, making the state, and schools and communities with clusters of high opt-out rates, increasingly vulnerable to outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease. District 5450 leaders have been working with the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition (CCIC) and Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialists at Children’s Hospital, as well as state legislators, to see how we might help before a major epidemic does occur.
CCIC sponsors the Shots for Tots & Teens Clinics. The Rotary wheel is now on all of their posters and brochures, and five Rotary Clubs volunteer at the clinics. Other Rotary Clubs volunteer at their county health departments or schools helping with registrations. They are also community partners with schools and school based clinics where opt-out rates are high.