August is National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for people of all ages.
Who needs vaccines and why?
- Vaccines are recommended for pregnant women to provide immunity and protection for the mother and her baby from diseases during pregnancy and after birth.
- Infants cannot fight diseases on their own. They need vaccines at birth, 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months. Once fully vaccinated, infants are protected from 14 serious diseases.
- Some vaccines require multiple doses to build immunity. Young children ages 2-6 should receive additional vaccines for the best protection.
- Children and Teens are active at school, sports, and other activities and need vaccines to protect from disease exposure. Vaccines are also required to attend most schools in California. HPV Vaccine Week also reminds us to promote HPV vaccinations in adolescents.
- Vaccines and boosters are needed for Adults to keep them protected. The protection provided by vaccines wears off over time. Additional vaccines may also be recommended based on a person’s job, lifestyle, or travel plans.
- Older adults struggle to fight off infections and are more likely to get sick. They may also have health conditions that increase their risk. Vaccines help increase immunity to help keep them healthy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of American adults get sick each year from diseases that vaccines can prevent. For patients with asthma or COPD, vaccines are an important step in protecting their health from serious diseases like influenza and pneumonia.
National Immunization Awareness Month provides us an opportunity to think about how far the development and advancement of immunization science has come, and its impact on public health.
Vaccines work by stimulating the body’s immune system to safely provide protection against viruses or bacteria that cause infection. After vaccination, the immune system is prepared to respond quickly when the body encounters the disease-causing organism.
Why are vaccines important? They help provide protection from an infectious disease and can lessen the severity of illness. If you are immune to a disease, you can be exposed to it without becoming sick. Simply put, because of advances in medical science, vaccines can help protect us against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of people have been eliminated primarily due to vaccines.
With the new school year about to start — and flu season right around the corner — it’s a great time to remind people in your community that getting all recommended vaccines protects against serious illness. Thanks to widespread vaccination, some childhood diseases like polio have been officially eliminated in the United States.
During National Immunization Awareness Month, we encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to ensure you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccination.
As your children head back to school this fall, it’s particularly important for you to work with your child’s doctor or nurse to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines. You can also find information on the American Academy of Pediatrics website.
Remember to take care of yourself too! Make sure to receive any vaccines you need to stay healthy. Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for you.
Immunization is the most frequent clinical service provided by local health departments. They often serve as critical safety nets for this essential public health service within their communities.
If you would like to learn more about the National Immunization Awareness Month, our information was sourced from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/index.html , https://www.aarc.org/an23-august-is-national-immunization-awareness-month/ , https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/fda-recognizes-national-immunization-awareness-month , https://health.gov/news/202208/help-us-celebrate-national-immunization-awareness-month , https://www.aai.org/About/National-Immunization-Awareness-Month