School is about to start and that means parents are taking their children to doctors for physicals and vaccinations.
However, for those who can’t afford regular visits to the doctor, Rep. Robert Menendez hosted the biennial Children’s Immunization Day on Tuesday, Aug. 30, in five different locations in North Jersey, offering free immunization shots to the community.
“August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and as we prepare our kids for the new school year, we as parents, and the community as a whole, have a responsibility to protect our children against life-threatening but preventable childhood diseases,” said Menendez.
In collaboration with local health organizations such as the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC), which ran the immunization site in Union City, and the Jersey City Family Health Center (JCFHC), the sites provided required vaccinations for several hundred children.
“Immunization is the one thing you can do for your children to make them healthy and keep them healthy,” said Menendez.
Helping the community
In lower-income urban districts like Hudson County many residents can’t afford proper health care. As a result, children are less likely to receive most of their required immunization shots.
“We do [these events] in late August just about every year, right before the school year begins, and not just for school age children,” said Menendez. “Throughout the last few years we have done immunizations for several hundred children.”
“I’m very pleased with [today’s event],” said Eunice Roman of Union City. “It’s extremely important to have these services for the community, especially for people who can’t afford the vaccinations.”
Roman came to the Kennedy Center last Tuesday with her two boys to get their shots before school starts. Her four-year-old son Andre is just starting pre-school this fall. “He didn’t even cry, he was tough,” said Roman.
Increasing awareness
Having grown up in Hudson County, Menendez has always understood the importance of affordable health care and aid in poor urban districts and he has made health care one of his top priorities in Congress. He began the series of immunization events several years ago that has grown to include districts such as Elizabeth and Perth Amboy.
“Immunization Day is a day of both action and awareness for our communities,” said Menendez. “For each child we vaccinate today, many other families will be reminded of the importance of immunizations.”
According to Menendez, despite the increased success of immunizations, the rate of immunizations in minority communities nationwide is declining because of economic difficulties, and sometimes cultural and language barriers. This is why Menendez believes these types of events are so important. “It’s about closing disparity,” said Menendez.
Menendez was joined by other state officials, including Freeholder Ray Velasquez and Rev. Tyrone Chess, aid to County Executive Tom DeGise, as he visited the different locations for the event. “The congressman has always been someone who fights for health care issues, and he does [this event] every year,” said Velasquez. “We’re here to support the congressman.”
Immunization has been one of the most significant public health achievements in the United States, having eliminated diseases such as small pox and polio, and reducing measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis, also known as whooping cough, by 99 percent.
In New Jersey last year, 83 percent of children received all their immunizations, which exceeded the Center for Disease Control’s targeted 80 percent goal.
However, thousands of people nationwide still go unvaccinated and continue to acquire these illnesses.
Documented cases reveal a recent rise in whooping cough among teenagers and adults, who spread the disease to infants. “There were more than 18,000 cases of whooping cough last year, which represented a 40-year high,” said Menendez. “In New Jersey, alone, there were over 200 probable cases of whooping cough. Without awareness and action, these numbers will not get better, but worse.”
Observing the progress
Menendez visited different immunization locations throughout the day, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Kennedy Center Parking Lot, 31st Street and Kennedy Boulevard, in Union City, where the NHCAC was attending to area residents.
Local official Commissioner Margie Bombino also came out for the event. “For me this is very close to my heart,” said Bombino. “Having worked in [local medical centers], I know the need for programs like this. This is great for the community.”
Menendez also made stops at the Boys and Girls Club, 1 Canal St., Jersey City, where the JCFHC was head of operations, the Newark Community Health Center, Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, and the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center in Perth Amboy.
Other community groups were at the sites handing out information for their health related services, such as NJ KidsCare and RX4NJ, which help low-income residents get prescriptions at little to no cost. Since their inception last January, RX4NJ has matched 76,000 people with prescription programs.
In Union City representatives from Horizon were also on site to help enroll residents in programs such as New Jersey Family Care.