National Immunization Awareness Month: August 2024
Key Facts
According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
- Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection.
- Immunization currently prevents 3.5 million to 5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles.
- Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.
Raising Awareness for Immunizations
August is National Immunization Month, a time to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. With school quickly approaching, it’s time to check immunizations records to see if your kids are up to date.
In Michigan, before a child can attend kindergarten, seventh grade, childcare, or enroll in a new school district, parents or guardians are required to produce documentation that confirms their child has either received the school-required immunizations, has received at least one dose of each of the required immunizations and is awaiting receipt of subsequent doses, or has a waiver.
Vaccines protect us from dangerous preventable diseases like Chickenpox, Flu, Hepatitis, Measles, Mumps, Meningococcal, Pneumonia, Shingles, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio and more. Vaccines not only help protect us and those we love from getting these diseases, they also help prevent spreading diseases to those that are unvaccinated.
Immunizations are not just for children. Protection from some childhood vaccines can wear off over time. Adults may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable disease due to age, job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions.
Maternal Vaccination
- If you are pregnant, getting vaccinated can help protect your baby after birth by passing on antibodies
- These antibodies can help protect your baby from those diseases during the first few months of life
- Ask your doctor or nurse about the vaccines you need during pregnancy
Childhood/Adolescent Vaccination
- On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.
- Some vaccines require more than one dose to provide your child with the best protection, each recommended dose is important
- Preteens and teens need four types of vaccines to help protect against serious diseases: meningococcal vaccine to protect against meningitis and bloodstream infections; HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV; Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough; and a yearly flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu
Adult Vaccination
- Adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time.
- You are also at risk for different diseases as an adult.
- Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available.
- Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be recommended for your age, health conditions, job, or lifestyle
Have questions? DHD#10 is here to help answer your questions regarding immunizations in your child’s life (and adults, too).
Call us at 888-217-3904 to schedule your vaccines today.
Quick Links
CDC | National Immunization Awareness Month