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Country: United States
City: Atlanta
Type: Prevention
“Baby’s First Year” calendars for Hepatitis B vaccination
Tracy Kavanaugh, an epidemiologist with the East Metro Public Health District that serves Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties, had the unique of idea of purchasing “Baby’s First Year” calendars so hepatitis B-infected mothers could keep track of when their child needs vaccinations.
The Lawrenceville resident submitted it to The Jenny Jones Foundation, the namesake of the daytime talk show host that gives money to people across the country with good ideas to better their communities through its “Jenny’s Heroes” program.
During a surprise phone call with Jones last week, Kavanaugh was officially given a $3,000 grant to buy the calendars.
“Chronic hepatitis B puts these children at high risk for developing liver cancer and premature death,” Kavanaugh wrote in her appeal to Jenny’s Heroes.
“I feel like this would show these women that we genuinely care about the health of them and their child. It might save a child’s life!”
The 1,000 calendars that Kavanaugh purchases will be given to hepatitis B-infected mothers after they deliver their child, and will have stickers placed on the months indicating when their child is due for vaccinations.
“It is critical that infants receive the hepatitis B vaccines on time to help prevent infection,” Kavanaugh wrote. “At least 90 percent of children exposed to hepatitis B will become chronically infected unless an intervention such as vaccination is done.”
Read more at: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/localnews/headlines/Grant_provides_calendars_for_hepatitis_moms_121218494.html
