Press Releases
04/23/2018
New Haven Physician Receives CDC Connecticut Childhood Immunization Champion Award
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced that Hyung Paek, MD, Medical Director of Information Technology (IT) at Fair Haven Community Health Care and Yale New Haven Health Systems, has been named CDC’s Connecticut Childhood Immunization Champion for his outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunization in the state of Connecticut. Dr. Paek will be honored during a National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) event on April 24th at the United Way of Greater New Haven, CT.
NIIW is observed annually April 21st –28th, to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs who promote healthy communities throughout the U.S. During NIIW, the CDC announces their Childhood Immunization Champion awards. These awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of individuals who strive to ensure that children in their communities are fully immunized against 14 preventable diseases before age two.
“National Infant Immunization Week provides a valuable opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn about the importance of childhood vaccinations,” said DPH Commissioner Raul Pino, MD, MPH. "Childhood vaccinations are one of the best ways for parents to protect their children against vaccine-preventable diseases. I applaud Dr. Paek and his staff for their efforts in promoting childhood immunizations in the greater New Haven area."
Dr. Hyung Paek is recognized for innovating and promoting information technology (IT) to improve the efficiency and quality of clinical care in the greater New Haven community. Under Dr. Paek’s leadership, Yale New Haven Health Services and Fair Haven Community Health Care were the first pediatric clinics in Connecticut to report immunization activity electronically from their electronic health record (EHR) to DPH’s Connecticut Immunization Information System (IIS), which keeps a permanent, transferable record of children’s immunizations that can be used by parents and doctors to keep track of immunization histories, to know when shots are due, and to provide to daycare, school, and camp as needed. To learn more about Dr. Paek’s accomplishments, click here.