Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2003
Contact: Kerre Fisher, (907) 269-2042 or 748-7398

‘I Did It By TWO!’ Campaign Supporters Recognized

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Anchorage, Alaska - - - Friday, August 15, Division of Public Health officials will hold a reception for the many supporters of the Vaccinate Alaska Coalition’s ‘I Did It By TWO!’ childhood immunization campaign. Last month, the program won an Excellence in Immunization award from the National Partnership for Immunization (NPI). Laurel Wood, Alaska’s immunization program manager, traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept the award on the behalf of the Vaccinate Alaska Coalition.

“This award is for everyone involved in the ‘I Did It By TWO!’ campaign. We want to recognize the great work of each of these individuals and show them that their efforts are not only appreciated in Alaska, but nationwide as well,” said Division of Public Health Director Doug Bruce.

Sponsors and major participants of the program include: the Iditarod Trail Committee; Iditarod Mushers Martin Buser of Big Lake, Paul Gebhardt and Jon Little of Kasilof, and Emmit Peters of Ruby; Alaska Superstation; All-Alaska Pediatric Partnership; graphic artist Cindy Pendleton; and the ‘I Did It By TWO!’ campaign committee members.

Each year, the Iditarod race commemorates the original race to bring life-saving serum to Nome to stop a deadly diphtheria outbreak. The ‘I Did It By TWO!’ campaign further reinforces the origins of the race while integrating an important health message into one of Alaska’s favorite and most visible sporting events. For the campaign, children pass immunization “checkpoints” in order to cross the finish line and are declared winners in the ‘Race to Vaccinate’, just as mushers must pass checkpoints in the actual race.

Also for the campaign, Iditarod dogs wear special ‘I Did It By TWO!’ jackets at the ceremonial start of the Iditarod; mushers promote immunization year-round at schools and special events; immunization reminder posters, stickers and other promotional items are handed out at the race start to children and parents; and immunization is brought to the attention of all Alaskans through frequent race coverage in the media.

Additional Online Information about ‘I Did it by TWO!’:

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News Directors / Assignment Editors:

The reception will be held on Friday, August 14, in the third floor conference room of the Frontier Building (3601 C Street, Anchorage), beginning at 10am. Please call Kerre Fisher at (907) 269-2042 if you plan to attend.

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For more information, please contact

Sherry Hill, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Communications
(907) 465-1611

Or

Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
(907) 465-1611