August is National Immunization Awareness Month, making this a great opportunity to remind everyone to get their appropriate vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of American adults get sick each year from devastating diseases that vaccines can easily prevent.
Health.mil, the official website of the Military Health System and Defense Health Agency, states that vaccinations are critical components of routine healthcare. They provide protection against severe illness, disability, and death from 15 different infectious diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal disease, herpes zoster (shingles), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV-related cancers, tetanus, polio, Dengue fever, mumps, measles, and pertussis (whooping cough). The enormous impact of COVID-19 vaccines on reducing illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths further demonstrates the immense value of vaccines.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC reported a concerning drop in routine immunizations for children and adults. Routine vaccination is rebounding but unevenly and has not yet recovered among all groups. Many children and adults that delayed vaccination during the pandemic are still behind schedule. It is crucial that steps are taken to help get everyone back on schedule with their routine immunizations. Children and teens can still catch up on vaccinations even if they start late.
Through National Immunization Awareness Month, the CDC is teaming with other agencies, such as the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC), to help promote and educate patients on the importance of vaccinations. The CDC even prepared an online tool to help individuals know what vaccines they may need: The Adult Vaccine Quiz. The CDC also has a an easy-to-follow vaccination schedule for kids and teens from Birth to 18 years.
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