The LRRC Stresses the Importance of HPV Vaccine at PTO Meeting
The LRRC (Lakewood Resource and Referral Center), 212 Second Street, a federally-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, recently conducted an educational and entertaining immunization presentation for parents and students during a PTO meeting at the Ella G. Clarke Elementary School, 455 Manetta Avenue, Lakewood.
The LRRC arranged the presentation focusing on the importance of the HPV vaccine as part of an ongoing CDC (Centers for Disease Control) sponsored campaign that focuses on raising immunization awareness and compliance.
Nurse Sue Grill-Levy of CHEMED (Center for Health Education, Medicine and Dentistry), with which the LRRC is affiliated, spoke to attendees about the importance of being immunized against HPV, while Oscar Orellana, the school’s guidance counselor, translated the presentation into Spanish.
James Gavilanes and Miles Thorn of Carnival Parties treated parents and children to an interactive, bilingual, entertaining, and informative immunization-themed magic show to demonstrate the importance and effectiveness of vaccinations in preventing diseases.
Representatives of the LRRC distributed customized T-shirts, produced specifically for the PTO event, bearing the message “Support the Fight against Cancer.” Additionally, attendees were provided with bilingual educational literature about HPV and how to prevent it. All parents in attendance completed a questionnaire about their previous awareness of and compliance with CDC recommendations regarding the HPV vaccine. Fourteen parents asked the LRRC to contact them to help set up appointments to have their children immunized against HPV.
Mayer Hoberman, the LRRC executive director of social services, said the event was very successful. “Many of the parents at the event informed us that they were previously unaware that there is an HPV vaccine at all,” Mr. Hoberman said. “Virtually all attendees whose children have not yet been immunized against HPV stated that they now intend to get their children vaccinated. Our presentation clearly had a significant impact.”
For more information about immunizations or to schedule an immunization appointment, call Tzipporah Zar of CHEMED at 732-364-2144, ext. 282. For information about the LRRC, contact Yosef Stein at 732-942-9292, ext. 112 or at ystein@lrrcenter.org.
About the Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC): The LRRC, a federally designated 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, 212 Second Street, Suite 204, Lakewood, provides free comprehensive social services, information, referrals, assistance for government and private sector programs, and auxiliary services in such areas as housing, rental counseling, health care, insurance plans, nutrition, utilities, and paid leave to residents of Lakewood Township, and the counties of Ocean, Mercer, and Monmouth. For more information about the LRRC, call 732-942-9292 or email info@lrrcenter.org.