News Release                              For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                         April 10, 2007

National Immunization Awareness Week –

Expert speakers coming to Grey Bruce

Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Week, April 22 to 28, Public Health is sponsoring events providing current information on childhood immunization for both healthcare professionals and parents. 

Dr. Dion Neame will address healthcare professionals, in Hanover on April 18 and Owen Sound on April 19, on the challenges and changes in immunization. Dr. Neame is a medical advisor for the Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada and was successful in lobbying the Ontario Government for universal funding of the meningitis vaccine for children. 

Dr. Ronald Gold author of the book, Your Child’s Best Shot: A parent’s guide to vaccination is keynote speaker at free parent information evening on Monday, April 30   at O.S.C.V.I. in Owen Sound from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dr. Gold has more than 30 years experience in the area of childhood vaccines. Dr. Gold will discuss childhood diseases, vaccine protection and childhood immunization schedules as well as answer questions from the audience.

“This is an exciting event for any parent or caregiver wanting to know more about immunization.” says Public Health Nurse, Kathryn Whitehouse. “Parents will find out why immunization is their child’s best protection from many dangerous diseases that still exist around the world.”

Public Health distributed copies of the new third edition of Dr. Gold’s books to all local Ontario Early Years Centres and libraries through Grey and Bruce providing parents with access to the latest information on vaccine preventable diseases. The book will be offered as door prizes at the parent’s information evening.

For more information or to reserve a seat at the parent event call 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 286. For more information on vaccine preventable diseases, visit wwww.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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Attachment: Backgrounder biographies on Dr. Dion Neame and Dr. Ronald Gold

For more information:

Kathryn Whitehouse

Public Health Nurse, Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 279