The Centers for Disease Control has named Doreen Begley, RN a CDC Childhood Immunization Champion for her outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunization throughout the state of Nevada.

Providing healthcare services for those who cannot otherwise access them has always been a part of Begley’s nursing career. For a number of years, she directed the Orvis Nursing Clinic, a small nurse-practitioner-led medical home for the indigent. When those doors closed in 2010, she continued a birth-to-3-year-old immunization program that had been in place at the clinic, by developing and implementing an immunization program within Early Head Start at the University of Nevada Reno. This program provides required well child checks and necessary immunizations to families who fall below federal poverty guidelines. Begley established herself as a Vaccines for Children provider to address the issues and difficulties many families face when trying to access healthcare for their children.

“Access to healthcare is a cornerstone to a healthy society,” Begley said. “I’m just trying to do my small part to get healthcare to our community.”

Each year during National Infant Immunization Week, the CDC Foundation and CDC honor health professionals and community leaders from around the country with the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion awards. These awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of those individuals who strive to ensure that children in their communities are fully immunized against 14 preventable diseases before the age of two.

“Ensuring that every child is vaccinated on schedule is particularly important given the current measles outbreak, which has affected more than 150 people across the country since the beginning of the year,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General for the United States Public Health Service and Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “We could not achieve our goal of protecting children without those committed individuals who are promoting immunizations at the state and local levels.” 

CDC Childhood Immunization Champions were selected from a pool of health professionals, coalition members, community advocates, and other immunization leaders. State Immunization Programs coordinated the nomination process and submitted nominees to CDC. One winner was selected in each of the 33 participating states and the District of Columbia. 

“Through the Childhood Immunization Champion awards, we’re proud to acknowledge Doreen’s passion, hard work, and commitment to children’s health,” said Immunize Nevada Executive Director Heidi Parker.

About National Infant Immunization Week

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. Each year, during NIIW, communities across the U.S. celebrate the CDC Childhood Immunization Champions. These award recipients are being recognized for the important contributions they have made to public health through their work in childhood immunization. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has proclaimed April 18 – 24 Nevada Infant Immunization Week, to coincide with the annual national observance of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW).

 

About Immunize Nevada

Immunize Nevada advocates for and educates about the benefits of vaccines and fosters statewide collaboration to achieve Nevada’s health priorities. Immunize Nevada’s vision is for healthy communities across Nevada being protected from vaccine-preventable disease. For more information, visit ImmunizeNevada.org.