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Sarah Thomas
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TODAY'S DATE: JULY 23, 1997 RELEASE DATE: IMMEDIATELY!
AAFP CONGRATULATES CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON INCREASE IN CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION
Kansas City, MO -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) today congratulated President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on their efforts to immunize America's children, noting the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's new data indicating that 90 percent or more of America's toddlers received the most critical doses of each of the recommended vaccines in 1996.
The AAFP has long endorsed the concept of government developing a system for purchasing and distributing all childhood vaccines routinely recommended for administration. Additionally, the Academy believes that these vaccines should be provided at no cost to all appropriate health care providers, with patients paying only an administration fee. "As physicians, we see firsthand the health benefits to children who are properly immunized -- and the tragic consequences to those who are not," said Patrick B. Harr, MD, AAFP President. "Our goal as a Nation should be for all children to be immunized, and we will continue to support the Administration's efforts in this area."
Founded in 1947, the American Academy of Family Physicians represents more than 84,000 family physicians, family practice residents and medical students.
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