"Did It By Two" - Race to Vaccinate

The Iditarod sled dog race is off and running, and so is the State of Alaska’s yearly immunization campaign “I Did It By Two” Race to Vaccinate. Commemorating the original race to bring life-saving serum to Nome to stop a deadly diphtheria outbreak, this campaign promotes the importance of protecting children against some serious diseases which once killed and disabled millions in the United States.

Delta Public Health Center encourages parents to take this opportunity to check their children’s shot records to see if they are up to date on all their immunizations. Children through age 5 who are up-to-date on immunizations can be entered in a drawing to win the cute and adorable stuffed husky pup with a collar signed by four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser.

Thanks to immunizations many vaccine preventable diseases are not seen much anymore, but the viruses and bacteria that cause these diseases are still circulating. Un-immunized children are still at risk from diseases such as measles, mumps and pertussis (otherwise known as whooping cough), as well as tetanus and diphtheria.

If you are uncertain about the status of your child’s immunizations or would like to enter your child in the drawing you can stop by the Delta Public Health Center or call 895-4292. All children’s immunizations are given free of charge. Normal hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

More information about vaccines is available by calling the toll-free Alaska Immunization Hotline at 1-888-430-4321 or from the Alaska Section of Epidemiology Website.