August is National Immunization Month (NIAM). NIAM is a yearly observance in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages from infants to elderly. The goal of NIAM is to raise awareness about the important role vaccines play in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s just how important vaccines are to the world.
Who needs vaccines? Everyone!
Here are some important facts about vaccinations.
You have the power to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases.
- You have the power to protect yourself against serious diseases like shingles, pneumonia, and flu.
- Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Adults may need vaccines to protect against whooping cough, flu, pneumonia, and shingles.
- Ask your doctor about vaccines you may need for your age, health conditions, job, or lifestyle.
Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing serious diseases.
- Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to help safely develop protection from diseases.
- Vaccines are tested before licensing and carefully monitored afterwards to ensure their safety. Learn more about the safeguards that ensure the vaccines we need are safe.
- Like all medical products, vaccines can cause side effects. The most common side effects are mild and go away quickly.
Work with your doctor or nurse to stay up to date on recommended vaccines.
- Talk to your doctor or nurse about whether you have missed any vaccines.
- Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be recommended for your age, health conditions, job, or lifestyle.
- It is especially important for patients with chronic health conditions to be up to date on recommended vaccinations, since they are at increased risk for complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure you haven’t missed any recommended vaccines.
Vaccine-preventable diseases are still a threat. Vaccination is the best protection.
- While many serious diseases are no longer common in the United States thanks to vaccines, these diseases still exist and can spread when people aren’t vaccinated.
- Even if you received the vaccines you needed as a child, the protection from some vaccines can wear off. You may also be at risk for other diseases due to your job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions. Find out what vaccines you may need based on different risk factors.
Every year thousands of adults in the U.S. become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent. Many adults even die from these diseases. By getting vaccinated, you can help protect yourself and your family from serious, sometimes deadly, diseases.
Vaccines are the best defense we have against diseases, and it’s important to make sure that you’re up to date on all recommended vaccines. Use National Immunization Awareness Month as your chance to make sure that all your vaccinations are current!