AUGUST IS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH

PRESS RELEASES   7/30/2023

August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). The goal of NIAM is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly. August is the perfect time to remind family, friends, co-workers, and those in the community to catch up on their vaccinations. Parents are enrolling their children in school, students are entering college, and healthcare workers are preparing for the upcoming flu season. Noted as one of the most significant health interventions of the 20th century, immunization helped eradicate smallpox worldwide, virtually eliminated polio from this hemisphere, and significantly reduced the occurrence of measles, diphtheria, rubella, and pertussis cases in the U.S. While many people are routinely immunized, there are still tens of thousands of deaths around the world that are caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization is one of the most effective ways to protect children and adults against many common infectious diseases. Keeping individuals healthier through immunizations results in lower associated social and financial costs for families, including time lost from school and work, as well as the expense of medical bills. Recommended vaccinations begin soon after birth and continue throughout life, and it’s important to get the right vaccines in the right doses at the right time. The CDC recommends that vaccinations begin shortly after birth and continue through childhood. Though most vaccines are given during childhood, other immunizations are recommended for administration during the adolescent or adult years, or should be administered throughout life. Staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines is an important measure to protect yourself and others from life-threatening infections. If you have any questions on your immunizations, please contact Medical Center Clinic’s Adult & Internal Medicine Department at 850.474.8385. Information provided by: http://wamu.org/calendar/community_minute/nationalimmunizationawarenessmonth.php http://nationalacademies.org/headlines/20070816.html