Vaccination is a pivotal step toward the prevention communicable diseases in infants as they grow; however, WHO and UNICEF estimate that 12.9 million infants around the world did not receive any immunizations. This statistic leaves approximately one in 10 children aged 2 years or younger at risk for 14 potentially life-threatening diseases.

Since 1994, the CDC has endorsed vaccination of children in this age group during National Infant Immunization Week. This year’s observance is held from April 21 to 28 and is celebrated in conjunction with World Immunization Week.