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AAP News Vol. 1 No. 8 August 1985, p. 20 © 1985 American Academy of Pediatrics
At times during the summer lull, I dream about the characteristics that would constitute an improved, if not ideal, child health care system. At the same time, of course, I contemplate what action the Academy can take to move us toward such a goal. In thinking about this system, we need to remember what progress has been accomplished and we must act so those gains are not jeopardized. Diseases for which we have immunizations have been all but eradicated. There are no more summer crises and panic due to epidemics of diseases such as poliomyelitis. The federal immunization initiative which purchases large amounts of all vaccines for use by clinics, together with state laws requiring immunization for children to enter school, have been major reasons behind the high levels of completed immunizations in this country.
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