Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) Recognize Ennis with CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award

Reno, Nev. – April 29, 2019 – Beth Ennis, APRN from Tonopah, has been named the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion for her outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunization in rural Nevada. Ennis is recognized for her fierce support of immunizations. She is dedicated to ensuring access to vaccines and preventive health in a community that recently made national news due to the rural healthcare challenges they continue to face.

Each year during National Infant Immunization Week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) 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.

“CDC's immunization programs continue to protect the nation’s children from vaccine-preventable diseases, like measles and whooping cough. The tremendous success of these programs is a direct result of the diligent efforts of childhood immunization champions,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC. “We cannot overstate the value of the dedication our Champions have shown, which ultimately protects our children, schools, and communities from serious diseases.”

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 participating states and the District of Columbia.

“Through the Childhood Immunization Champion awards, CDC and Nevada proudly acknowledge Beth’s passion, hard work, and commitment to children’s health,” said Heidi Parker, Executive Director of Immunize Nevada. “While in nursing school, she worked “Sabin Sunday” events at which oral polio was mass distributed and her professional experience has put her in the thick of outbreaks, remote from many resources, and 100 miles from her nearest colleague. Her dedication reminds us that communicable diseases don’t follow an 8-5, weekday schedule, nor how many staff or how many resources are available.”

For profiles of other CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award winners, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/champions.

About Immunize Nevada
Immunize Nevada is widely recognized as Nevada’s trusted resource for immunizations and community health for all ages by fostering education and statewide collaboration. Immunize Nevada’s vision is healthy communities across Nevada protected from vaccine-preventable disease. For more information, visit ImmunizeNevada.org.

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.

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