National Immunization Advocate to Be Honored

MISSOULA, Mont. -- Betty Bumpers, a nationally renowned advocate for childhood immunizations, will be honored at a reception in Missoula on Oct. 4, 2004. Bumpers is vice president of Every Child By Two, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing infant mortality by promoting the timely immunization of children.

Bumpers and former first lady Rosalyn Carter founded the organization in 1991, following a measles epidemic that took the lives of 123 Americans. The two women have been credited with the passage of several laws requiring children to be vaccinated before starting school.

The organization is currently focusing its efforts on promoting immunization registries, which are confidential community- and state-based computer systems that record children's immunization status and send out reminders to families when shots are due.

The reception will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Missoula City/County Health Department. It is hosted by the local health department, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, and Carol Williams, co-chair of the Montana Every Child By Two chapter.

Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services