Samantha Surman, of Galeton and her son, Hardin, were named the winners of the 2024-2025 Baby Bag Infant Immunization Promotion organized through the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health, kicking off the 2025-2026 campaign.

 

WELLSBORO, PA – As an Army National Guard Medic, Samantha Surman, of Galeton, has medical informational resources literally surrounding her, but still, when she was about to become a mother, she had more questions than answers, especially about immunizations.

While in the hospital, nurses at UPMC Wellsboro gave her a Baby Bag as a gift to celebrate Infant Immunization Month, from the Partnership for Community Health. Included in the bag were immunization record books, parents’ guides to immunizations, diapers, wipes, informational brochures and other helpful items from the Partnership’s grant through the Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“When I got the bag, it was nice. He was the only little man in (the hospital).  I had some stuff to go home with and I read everything that was in there. It was very helpful.”

Also included in the bag was a card giving permission for the Partnership and the Department of Health to review immunization records up to 6-months of age, ensuring that parents followed through with the necessary vaccinations.  The cards are collected either at the hospital or through the bags given out at the Maternal and Family Services agency (WIC).

Surman and baby Hardin got another surprise recently when they were notified that they were the winners from last year’s baby bag project.