Obey ANNOUNCES OVER $34 MILLION FROM RECOVERY ACT
 FOR WISCONSIN VACCINATIONS & CHILD CARE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced today that Wisconsin will receive over $34 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to increase the number of vaccines and childcare available to Wisconsin families.

"One of the great successes in public health is how vaccines have reduced infectious diseases," said Obey, who as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee was a lead author of President Obama's economic recovery plan and strong supporter of increased immunization efforts. "Routine immunization has wiped out smallpox; nearly eliminated polio; and minimized the number of people who suffer the devastating effects of measles, meningitis, and other preventable illnesses."

"According to the CDC, in addition to saving lives and preventing illnesses, every dollar spent on immunizing a child saves $16.50 in annual direct and indirect healthcare costs," Obey added.

Approximately 42,000 adults and 308 children in the United States die every year from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. As part of the $1 billion investment in Prevention and Wellness included in the economic recovery act, Obey directed that $300 million was specifically targeted to preventing vaccine-preventable diseases by providing an estimated 145,000 underinsured children, teens, and uninsured adults with life-saving immunizations.  Wisconsin is set to receive $3.9 million to increase vaccinations throughout the state.

Vaccine preventable diseases include: Anthrax, Cervical Cancer, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A & B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Influenza (Flu), Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Lyme Disease, Measles, Meningococcal, Monkeypox, Mumps, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Pneumococcal, Poliomyelitis (Polio), Rabies, Rotavirus, Rubella (German Measles), Shingles (Herpes Zoster), Smallpox, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, Varicella (Chickenpox) and Yellow Fever.

Wisconsin is also set to receive over $30 million to help increase the availability and the quality of childcare for disadvantaged families. "Childcare programs like this enable low income parents to work or attend school so they can improve their lives and those of their families with the peace of mind that their kids are in a safe and nurturing environment," Obey said.

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• For more information on Vaccinations, visit the CDC Vaccine Home Page or the WI Immunization Program

• For more information on Child Care, visit the U.S. Admin. for Children & Families or the WI Dept. of Children & Families