Get Vaccinated! It’s National Immunization Awareness Month
By Christina Howerton, Manager, Marketing and New Media
Between the new Delta variant of COVID-19, delays in getting routine vaccinations due to the ongoing pandemic, and the upcoming flu season, it’s more important now than any time in recent history for everyone to get the vaccines available to them. You have the power to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. During NIAM, the NHC, along with our members, encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional to ensure you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccinations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides resources like the Growing Up with Vaccines interactive guide, which gives information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy, throughout childhood, and into adulthood.
Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious diseases, including COVID-19. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, “almost all (more than 9 in 10) COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have occurred among people who are unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated.” It’s critical that those who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine do so soon to protect themselves and those in their communities who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccination, check out the following websites:
The U.S. flu season will begin in September and continue through at least March. The flu shot, which will be available at most pharmacies and health care providers soon, helps protect you and those around you who are vulnerable to becoming sick, including the elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems.
Learn more about the importance of flu vaccination by watching the video series below featuring William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Medical Director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Please share this information with your friends and family and encourage them to get vaccinated. Learn more about NIAM at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/index.html.
