National Immunization Awareness Month 2019

Join National Immunization Awareness Month activities and remind your community that vaccines protect against serious diseases, and vaccines are recommended and safe for all ages

National Immunization Awareness Month 2019
National Immunization Awareness Month 2019

Every year, in the month of August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), which is an annual observance, is celebrated to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. In this National Immunization Awareness Month try to raise awareness and encourages everyone to make sure they are aware of the necessary vaccinations for potentially harmful diseases. By this, various different diseases can be easily prevented by administering vaccines, and thus, protecting you from unseen harmful viruses. For this, take the required precautions with a simple call to your doctor, and avoid potential harm while leading a healthy and happy life.

What basically is National Immunization Awareness Month?

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is a campaign held every year month of August to focus on the significance of vaccination for people of all ages. Use NIAM to raise awareness in your practice, about why vaccines are imperative and how they prevent serious, sometimes deadly, diseases.

Every year, the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC), in collaboration with CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, has developed a communication toolkit for use in your communities, schools and work places and encourages people to become involved, raise awareness and most important of all, get immunized.  There are 4 key messages of the toolkits that produced annually, these being:

  •  Vaccines protect against serious diseases.
  • These diseases still exist and outbreaks do occur.
  • Vaccines are recommended throughout our lives.
  • Vaccines are very safe.

Why National Immunization Awareness Month is Important

  1. Immunization protects our children

Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of many diseases, including amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.

  1. Immunization is safe

Vaccination is safe and effective. All vaccines undergo long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and the federal government to make sure they are safe.

  1. We owe it to everyone

We all have a public health obligation to our communities to protect ourselves as well as others from potential health risks. By getting vaccinated, we eliminate diseases before they have a chance to spread.

How to Celebrate National Immunization Awareness Month 2019

  1. Call your doctor

The only way to be absolutely certain about what vaccinations you’ve received is to gather your medical records. Contact your doctor and request your immunization records to determine whether or not you are up to date.

  1. Encourage friends to do the same

Just because you feel healthy doesn't mean you don't need to be vaccinated. Unlike most medicines, which treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them. When you check your immunization records, encourage friends to do the same, and you can all make sure you are up to date. Even, encourage people in your community to get the flu vaccine every year.

Also Read - Immunization Schedule in India

  1. Know your family history

A family medical history can reveal the history of the disease in your family and help a doctor identify patterns that might be relevant to your own health. This will allow the doctor to be best informed about recommending vaccines for immunization.