Dr. Blereau wins CDC immunization award

Dr. Robert Blereau of Morgan City, has been named Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Childhood Immunization Champion for his outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunization in Morgan City, according to an April 18 news release.
Blereau was recognized for treating generations of families never missing an opportunity to promote the benefits of the vaccines in these treatable diseases, the release stated. Blereau and his staff have consistently achieved immunization rates topping 90 percent, the release stated.
Each year during National Infant Immunization Week, the CDC Foundation and CDC honor health professionals and community leaders from around the country with the CDC 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 the age of two, the release stated.
“Ensuring that every child is vaccinated on schedule is particularly important given the current measles outbreak, which has affected more than 150 people across the country since the beginning of the year,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General for the United States Public Health Service and Director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in the news release.
“We could not achieve our goal of protecting children without those committed individuals who are promoting immunizations at the state and local levels,” Schuchat said.
CDC Childhood Immunization Champions were selected from a pool of health professionals, coalition members, community advocates, and other immunization leaders. State Immunization Programs coordinated the nomination process and submitted nominees to CDC. One winner was selected in each of the 33 participating states and the District of Columbia.
“Through the Childhood Immunization Champion awards, CDC and the State of Louisiana proudly acknowledge Dr. Robert Blereau passion, hard work, and commitment to children’s health,” said Dr. Frank Welch, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Immunization Medical Director.
For profiles of other CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award winners, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/champions.