David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) and the Hawai‘i Immunization Coalition (HIC) congratulate R. Michael Hamilton M.D., a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Honolulu Medical Office, for receiving the 2018 Childhood Immunization Champion Award for Hawaii. Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation recognized Dr. Hamilton for his significant contributions toward improving public health through his work in childhood immunization.

The CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award, announced annually during National Infant Immunization Week (April 21-28), recognizes one individual from each of the 50 U.S. states, eight U.S. territories and freely associated states, and the District of Columbia for their efforts to improve public health through childhood immunizations. Honorees are evaluated based on their leadership, collaboration, innovative strategies and advocacy efforts to support immunization activities in the community.

“Dr. Hamilton contributes his time and expertise toward sharing valuable information and resources on childhood immunization with the Hawai‘i community,” said Ron Balajadia, DOH Immunization Branch chief. “Childhood Immunization Champions go above and beyond to increase immunizations in our state, protecting children, families and communities, and saving lives.”

“The Hawai‘i Immunization Coalition is pleased to work with the DOH Immunization Branch in partnership with the CDC and the CDC Foundation to honor Dr. Hamilton for his work in the field of immunization in Hawai‘i,” said Judy Strait-Jones, HIC President. “His and Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to partnering with the coalition and other Hawai‘i organizations to ensure that all Hawai‘i families are appropriately immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases is inspiring.”

Dr. Hamilton serves as a spokesperson for Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, authoring numerous articles and participating in interviews to discuss the importance of keiki immunization for preventing flu, measles and other diseases. Dr. Hamilton is also a member and immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics Hawai‘i Chapter, where he supports the health and well-being of Hawai‘i’s children through advocacy, volunteerism and leadership.

“We applaud Dr. Hamilton’s commitment to increasing awareness and improving rates of childhood immunizations in Hawai‘i,” said Marsha Marumoto, MD, chief of pediatrics Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i. “His contributions, along with the collective efforts of many other public health professionals, health care providers and community leaders, support healthy, thriving communities for keiki and their families.”

Past recipients of the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award from Hawaii are:
• Janelle Jinbo-Labuguen, Tripler Army Medical Center Family Medicine Practitioner (2017)
• Chelsea Tadena, Lanai Community Health Center Medical Assistant (2016)
• Maricel Abad, Department of Health Public Health Nurse (2013)
• Vince Yamashiroya, M.D., Pediatrician (2012)

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Gail Ogawa
Disease Outbreak Control Division
Phone: (808) 586-8358
Email: [email protected]