DHS Honors State Health Care Providers With the “Wisconsin BigShot” Awards

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded  115 state health care providers its annual “BigShot” awards for their efforts to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases. The Wisconsin BigShot award is an annual recognition that celebrates providers in the Vaccines for Children Program who are leading the way in protecting children’s health by ensuring their youngest patients are up to date on their vaccinations. The awards are based on 2022 immunization data collected by the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

“We are grateful for the leadership of these providers and their commitment to keeping our youngest residents safe and healthy,” said Paula Tran, State Health Officer. “Childhood vaccinations are our best tools for protecting our children and everyone around them from vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and pertussis, among others.”

The announcement of Wisconsin’s 2023 BigShot awardees takes place during National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), a week dedicated to highlighting the importance of protecting infants and young children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Wisconsin BigShot awardees include 98 providers who have ensured that 90 percent of their patients have received protection against Hepatitis A by age 2, and 16 providers who have ensured that 90 percent of their patients are up to date on their routine series of vaccination by age 2. The routine series of childhood vaccinations includes diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MMR, Hepatitis B, Hib, varicella, and pneumococcal vaccine.

“Although the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many families having to delay routine visits to their child’s health care provider or community clinic, we continue to see parents and providers catching up,” said Dr. Stephanie Schauer, Wisconsin Immunization Program Manager. “Today, we celebrate the providers who have dedicated their work to ensuring children and communities are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Each Wisconsin BigShot awardee will receive a certificate they can display in their waiting rooms to show patients that they are committed to protecting children and their communities against vaccine-preventable illnesses.

For more information on Wisconsin’s “BigShot” awards, including a list of winning providers, visit the BigShot Winners webpage. Find resources, including children’s vaccine schedules, on the Wisconsin Immunization Program webpage.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.