It’s finally August, which means it’s National Immunization Month! National Immunization month is held every year in August and serves to highlight the importance of vaccinations and staying on top of your immunization schedule.
Vaccines are safe and effective for preventing serious illnesses and diseases. All vaccines undergo lengthy reviews, in which they are carefully studied by scientists and doctors to ensure they are safe for use.
Thanks to the power of vaccines many diseases have been eradicated! However, despite the introduction of vaccines, some diseases still pose a threat and continue to infect infants and the elderly, people who have weakened immune systems and those who are unable to receive the vaccine for a variety of reasons. This is where “herd immunity” plays a huge role! If the majority of people in a community are vaccinated, those who are at risk of getting infected are less likely to come in contact with a disease or illness.
If your child is in school, it is often required that they are up-to-date on their vaccines. Also, if you or your family are planning on traveling out of country, some locations require you receive vaccines prior to travel. This helps prevent you from contracting diseases that may not normally be found in the United States.
The CDC recommends that you and your family follow an immunization schedule to help protect yourselves and prevent serious diseases! Click the links below to view recommended immunization schedules by age group, and see if you are up to date on your vaccines!
Source cdc.gov
