Richard F. Jacobs recognized as immunization champion by CDC

In recognition of National Infant Immunization Week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation are honoring immunization advocates around the country with the first ever CDC Childhood Immunization Champion awards. Richard F. Jacobs, M.D., F.A.A.P., chairman, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and president, Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) Research Institute from Little Rock is the Arkansas recipient.

“These Champion awards honor community leaders on the front lines who are ensuring that all children are vaccinated,” said Dr. Howard K. Koh, assistant secretary for health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. “As a former state commissioner of public health, I know that state and local commitment inspires the nation, protects children and saves lives.”

Dr. Jacobs has been a leader on immunization issues in Arkansas for nearly 30 years. In the 1980s, he chaired the State’s Immunization Task Force with then First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary Clinton. In an effort to reduce invasive disease from Haemophilus influenza (Hib), he successfully acquired Hib vaccine for all Arkansas children a year sooner than proposed funding from the federal government.

Dr. Jacobs helped form the Vaccine Medical Advisory Committee in 2000 and has chaired it since its inception. The VMAC facilitates communication between all immunization stakeholders (Arkansas Department of Health, Medicaid, ACH, UAMS Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Association of Pediatrics, Arkansas Association of Family Practice, Arkansas Association of Pharmacists, school nurses, researchers, and advocacy groups) to promote and deliver immunizations to the children of Arkansas

Dr. Jacobs was nominated by Dirk T. Haselow, M.D., Ph.D., medical director and section chief, Communicable Disease and Immunizations at the Arkansas Department of Health. “Dr. Jacobs has made himself invaluable as a technical resource on all things relating to communicable diseases and immunizations to the Arkansas Department of Health for the last three decades. There is no one more deserving to be recognized as Arkansas’ Immunization Champion,” said Haselow.

CDC Childhood Immunization Champions were selected from a pool of health care professionals, coalition members, parents, and other immunization leaders as having made a significant contribution. State Immunization Programs coordinated the nomination process and notified CDC of their recommendations. 

“Vaccine-preventable diseases still circulate in the United States and elsewhere. Without the diligent efforts of our champions, these potentially deadly diseases would be an even greater threat to our nation’s children,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Each of us has the potential to be a champion by protecting children’s health through immunization.”

For more information about other CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award winners, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/champions.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. This year, during NIIW, communities across the U.S. celebrate the CDC Childhood Immunization Champions. These recipients are being recognized for the important contributions they have made to public health through their work in childhood immunization.