# 4779
This site, quite frankly, doesn’t attract huge numbers of readers mostly (I suspect) because I don’t churn out anti-vaccine rhetoric or populist conspiracy-theory blather.
I may not have many readers, you see . . .but I do have my self respect.
Well . . .most of it, anyway. But I digress . . .
Vaccines aren’t perfect, of course. A fact that activists seem to pounce on at every opportunity.
But quite frankly, I can’t think of a drug that is. All medicines have the potential for side effects, and no medicine is 100% benign.
As with any drug, you have to weigh its potential risks against its likely benefits. And vaccines have proved, time and again, to be extremely safe and very beneficial to individuals and to society.
So, with that in mind, it behooves me to mention that August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM).
First a little background from the CDC, followed by some links and a CDC PODCAST on Adult and Childhood immunizations.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
August observation of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is a great way to rally local organizations in your immunization education efforts. Communities are encouraged to plan local health screenings or fairs, media events and other related immunization outreach efforts during the month of August to promote the benefits of immunization.
Overview of NIAM
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.
Why are immunizations important?
Immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, eliminated wild poliovirus in the United States. and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis and other diseases. But despite these efforts, people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases. By staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines, individuals can protect themselves, their families and friends and their communities from serious, life-threatening infections.
Who should be immunized?
Getting immunized is a lifelong, life-protecting community effort regardless of age, sex, race, ethnic background or country of origin. Recommended vaccinations begin soon after birth and continue throughout life. Being aware of the vaccines that are recommended for infants, children, adolescents, adults of all ages and seniors, and making sure that we receive these immunizations, are critical to protecting ourselves and our communities from disease.
When are immunizations given?
Because children are particularly vulnerable to infection, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life. Other immunizations are recommended during adolescent or adult years and, for certain vaccines, booster immunization are recommended throughout life. Vaccines against certain diseases that may be encountered when traveling outside of the U.S. are recommended for travelers to specific regions of the world.
A variety of resources promoting immunization and NIAM can be found at the links below. You may want to consider customizing these tools for use locally.
- Adult immunization schedule
- Childhood and adolescent immunization schedule
- Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
- National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) materials
Flyers, posters, brochures, public service announcements (PSAs) etc.- Pre-teen campaign materials
- Links to galleries of materials located elsewhere on this site (includes flyers, brochures, posters, etc.)
COCA Call: CDC Update on Childhood and Adult Vaccines
This podcast is an overview of the Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) conference call: Promoting Health and Preventing Disease: Childhood and Adult Vaccine Updates and Recommendations. Dr. Yabo Beysolow discusses recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations, new vaccines and administration schedules, immunization resources, and the promotion of immunizations in provider practices.
Created: 7/27/2010 by National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and Emergency Communication System (ECS)/Joint Information Center (JIC); Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR). Date Released: 7/28/2010.
