Local health officials cite importance of infant immunization
National Infant Immunization Week is April 20-27, and officials from the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are encouraging parents and guardians to make sure that children two years and younger are immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.
On-time vaccination is critical to provide protection against these potentially life-threatening diseases, according to RHHD officials.
“The rise of vaccine-preventable diseases in this country and in the Commonwealth of Virginia should concern us all,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry. “Once eliminated in the US, there have now been 17 confirmed cases of measles in Virginia in 2026. Infant and child immunization against diseases like measles gives parents and guardians powerful tools that can help protect one of our most vulnerable populations from serious illness and death.”
The Code of Virginia requires children entering daycare, public and private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrolling in school. These vaccines should be given based on the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule. Parents and guardians can view the Virginia childhood vaccine schedule on the VDH website.
Families without health insurance or who are enrolled in Medicaid can visit rhhd.gov/connect-pc to find pediatric care providers. Families with private insurance may schedule appointments with their child’s pediatrician, a local pharmacy, or one of RHHD’s community partners.
For details, parents and guardians can visit rhhd.gov/childhoodvax. RHHD offers childhood immunization appointments at its Cary Street, Henrico East, and Henrico West, clinics. Parents and guardians can call 804-205-3501 to make an appointment. Bilingual-in-Spanish staff is available at all locations.
Virginia Vaccines for Children providers offer free immunizations to children (younger than 19 years of age) who are uninsured or underinsured; Medicaid-eligible or Medicaid-enrolled; and/or American Indian or Alaska Native. Families can search for a VVFC provider near them using rhhd.gov/vfc.
A 2024 study published in The Lancet looked at the effect of the World Health Organization’s Expanded Programme on Immunization, which was launched in 1974 to improve global access to life-saving vaccines. The study found that, since 1974, vaccination saved 154 million lives, including 146 million among children younger than 5 years, and 101 million infants younger than 1 year.
Measles vaccination accounted for 93.7 million lives saved (60.8%) of the 154 million total lives saved over this 50-year period. Measles vaccination was the single greatest driver of lives saved by vaccination, across all years in every region and all World Bank income strata.
