The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is launching a new immunization advocacy group that is led by parents called Ohio Parents Advocating for Vaccines (Ohio PA4V).
Ohio PA4V is a group of Ohio parents advocating for vaccines and spreading accurate information about the disease burden, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines. Some of them are vaccine-preventable disease survivors, parents of immuno-compromised children, or parents of healthy children because of immunizations, and some are fierce advocates for combatting misinformation on vaccines!
Parents vaccinate their children (if medically possible) for their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of the community. Ohio’s immunization rates for children and adolescents are NOT where they need to be for all children to be protected from potentially dangerous vaccine-preventable diseases. The misinformation about vaccines has scared parents, and it is time to set the record straight.
- Join PA4V! There is no membership fee. Members are asked to occasionally share PA4V social media posts to get the word out about the truth around vaccines.
- Share the facts! Go online to get access to resources you can share with your friends, family and on social media.
- Share your story! Go online and share your story about why immunizations are so import to you and your family. You can do this with a sentence or two or a video you upload.
- Participate in the upcoming #I VAX campaign! Publicly share that you understand the importance of vaccinating yourself and your family against vaccine preventable diseases.
- Follow the campaign Twitter and Facebook!
Campaign Co-chairs
Samantha Bennett: Artist, mom, and bacterial meningitis survivor. Ms. Bennett contracted bacterial meningitis at 9 months-old. She lost several fingers, toes, and half her foot. Now in her mid-30’s, she continues to suffer the effects of the disease and has had more than 20 surgeries. She is an outspoken advocate for immunizations in Ohio and across the country. She helped pass Ohio’s meningococcal vaccine mandate.
Denise Warrick, MD, FAAP: Pediatrician, mom, and advocate. Dr. Warrick is the mother of two and a pediatrician working in primary care near Cincinnati, OH. She is passionate about educating parents on the facts about vaccines.
If you have questions, please contact Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO, or Melanie Farkas, director of immunization programs, at the Ohio AAP.
I am, as a grandmother of two living grandkids, I am FURIOUS about the legislature’s political maneuvering to “protect the rights” of those who don’t want to wear masks in school. Please let me know what I can do to help protect our children. Thank you so much.