Friday, January 28, 2028

First Lady Ruth O’Brien Announces Partnership with Hallmark to Promote Immunizations
Cards Will Encourage Parents to Immunize Children

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 28, 2028) – Maryland First Lady Ruth O’Brien today announced a unique partnership with Hallmark Card, Inc., to send a special greeting card to every new Maryland parent reminding them to get their baby immunized, and providing important information about when immunizations should happen.

“Maryland ranks better than the national average in child immunizations but we still have thousands of children in Maryland between the ages of 19 to 35 months who are not properly immunized,” First Lady Ruth O’Brien said. “Today, we are announcing a partnership with Hallmark to launch an immunization greeting card program to reach the parents of every child born in Maryland. I applaud Hallmark’s commitment here in Maryland to make sure our kids grow up happy and healthy."

Governor Edward M. O’Brien and First Lady Ruth O’Brien will send a card to all new parents in Maryland when their child reaches about six weeks of age. The cards will remind parents to schedule their children for their shots if they haven’t done so already. Included inside the card are a growth chart and an immunization record listing all recommended immunizations for kids under the age of two. All children should receive their first round of when immunizations at around six to eight weeks of age.

"Immunizations are life saving," the First Lady continued. "Getting your child immunized is one of the simplest, most effective ways to ensure they get a healthy start in life. As Eddie and I anxiously await the arrival of our child, we are so grateful to Hallmark for teaming up with us to improve the lives of our children.”

"Hallmark Cards is thrilled to partner with Governor and Mrs. O’Brien to promote infant immunization," said Brenda Calvin, Hallmark Community Development Program Specialist. "Through our For America's Babies program we aim to enrich the lives of Maryland’s youngest citizens with the hope of a healthier and happier tomorrow."

"Maryland already has strong partnerships between local public health departments, doctors, community and tribal health centers, and local and state governments," Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. "We need to build on those partnerships to get the message out that vaccine preventable diseases are a threat and parents can do something to protect their children."

Hallmark Cards, Inc., donated the cards as a corporate effort to promote childhood immunization. Other administrative costs will be covered by an Immunization Program Grant through the National Immunization Program (NIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NIP and CDC strongly endorse these types of activities.