FREEHOLD, NJ – As part of National Immunization Month, the New Jersey Department of Health recognized the achievements of fifteen Monmouth County child care centers who participated in the New Jersey Hot Shots for Tots Immunization Campaign pilot.
“The Hot Shots for Tots Campaign supports our goal of protecting children from preventable disease through good hygiene and vaccinations,” said Freeholder Patrick Impreveduto, liaison to the Monmouth County Health Department, who spoke at the event. “We commend these childcare centers for using creative approaches to educate children and parents about the importance of childhood immunizations, and hope that as the program expands, others follow suit.”
Remarks were made by Freeholder Patrick Impreveduto, Monmouth County Public Health Officer Chris Merkel and representatives from the New Jersey Department of Health.
The Hot Shots campaign is a voluntary incentive program that uses a point system to encourage child care facilities to promote best practices and improve immunization coverage. The following centers received awards:
Gold Awardees:
Cambridge Park Preschool
The Goddard School of Hazlet
Holmdel Preschool
Lincroft Center for Children
Little People at Work, Inc.
Little Tree Preschool
Meridian Early Childhood Education Center
Monmouth Daycare
Red Bank Preschool
St. Ann’s Childcare Center
Silver Awardees:
Eatontown Community Center
Farmingdale School
Give and Take Child Care Center
School Time Learning
Bronze Awardee:
Oceanport Preschool
“National Immunization Month serves as a reminder to parents about the importance of getting their children vaccinated to protect against disease,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal. “Children will be returning to school in a few weeks so parents and caregivers should check to make sure their children’s vaccinations are up to date.”
The Hot Shots for Tots campaign will continue in Monmouth County this fall and expand to other counties as well. For more information on immunizations in Monmouth County, go to
www.visitmonmouth.org.
Information about vaccines and recommended immunization schedules can be found at the CDC website.
(Left to right) Patrick Impreveduto, Monmouth County Freeholder, Chris Merkel, Monmouth County Health Officer, Jennifer Smith, Health Educator, Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, NJ Department of Health, Erika Lobe, Adolescent/Adult Immunization Coordinator, NJ Department of Health, and David A. Henry, Health Officer, Monmouth County Regional Health Commission.
Additional photos available at:
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