Vaccination Success

Vaccination Success

Since 1796, when the first successful vaccine for smallpox helped reduce its spread, vaccines have been successfully developed and employed to diminish or eliminate highly infectious diseases.1 The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the number of children worldwide receiving essential vaccines has increased from 20 percent to 86 percent since 1980.2 These efforts have protected communities against the spread of many infectious diseases. Despite the long history of successful vaccine development and use, many people struggle to trust that the current COVID-19 vaccines, derived from more than 20 years of research, are safe and effective. Yet, as Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, CEO of the Bizzell Group, notes in this Psychology Today vaccine article, “Widespread inoculation against COVID-19 will not only slow and eventually stop the spread of this deadly disease. It will begin our mental healing, raising the spirits of our country and our world from more than a year of fear, uncertainty, grief, and isolation.”  Building trust in the COVID-19 vaccines and expanding vaccine access to the hardest hit areas and those with low vaccination rates are crucial strategies for stopping the spread.

READ MORE: Vaccination Success

1https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/smallpox-vaccines#:~:text=The%20smallpox%20vaccine%2C%20introduced%20by,protected%20against%20inoculated%20variola%20virus

2https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-vaccines-success-story-gives-us-hope-for-the-future

Dr. Anton Bizzell Joined the March of Dimes’ Maryland Market Board of Directors

Dr. Anton Bizzell Joined the March of Dimes’ Maryland Market Board of Directors

Business and community leader, Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., President and CEO of the Bizzell Group, has been elected to the March of Dimes Maryland Market Board of Directors.

Dr. Anton Bizzell understands the importance of fighting for the health of all moms and babies. “As a public health advocate, I can’t think of a more important cause,” he says. “When you support the March of Dimes, you make a statement that you want to live in a world in which healthy moms and strong babies are a priority for us all.” Dr. Bizzell has spent most of his career on public health issues regarding access to and quality of medical, substance misuse, and behavioral health services. He has extensive experience in collaborating and interacting with professional health and community organizations, as well as expert knowledge in identifying and treating medical diseases in the fields of primary care, mental health, and substance abuse.

In his role as a board member, Dr. Bizzell serves as an advocate for the March of Dimes’ mission, encouraging local businesses and community leaders to join him in supporting the fight for stronger, healthier babies. “The number of babies born prematurely here in Maryland and across the country is not acceptable,” he says. “March of Dimes empowers families with programs, knowledge, and tools.”

MOD leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. They believe that every baby deserves the best possible start. For 80 years, MOD has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. They’re building on that legacy to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socioeconomic background, or demographics. They advocate for policies that prioritize their health, support radical improvements to the care moms and babies receive, and pioneer research to find solutions to the biggest health threats to moms and babies. MOD pioneered the vaccine research leading to the eradication of polio in the United States, and then shifted focus to address some of the biggest health threats to moms and babies with innovations like folic acid, newborn screening, and surfactant therapy. Today, they educate medical professionals and the public about best practices, support lifesaving research, provide comfort and support to families in neonatal intensive care units, and advocate for those who need them most: moms and babies. For more information on the March of Dimes, please visit https://www.marchofdimes.org/.