Remember when you were a kid headed to the doctor’s office for a yearly check-up? You wouldn’t be alone if you said you dreaded getting shots. Because August is National Immunization Awareness Month, I want to spend some time discussing why vaccinations – pesky as they may be – are so essential.
In the U.S., vaccines have reduced or eradicated many infectious diseases that once routinely killed or harmed many infants and children. While we have made great progress in controlling vaccine preventable diseases, the viruses and bacteria that cause disease and death still exist and can still be transmitted to children who are not immunized. In addition to threatening our wellbeing, vaccine-preventable diseases have many social and economic costs: sick children miss school and can cause parents to lose time from work.
Of course, as we all know, vaccines are not just for children.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a number of important vaccines for adults, including a yearly influenza (flu) vaccine; a tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td/Tdap) booster vaccine every 10 years; two doses of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine; one or two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine; three doses of the HPV vaccine for women in their 20s and a zoster (shingles) vaccine for those older than 60. For a list of all the recommended vaccines for adults based on age and risk factors, check out this chart from the CDC.
At United Health Foundation, we want to give communities the tips and tools to achieve better immunization coverage. That’s why we are using America’s Health Rankings® as a catalyst to inspire change in your respective states. Our Take Action Resource Library is a great example of how we are using information from the Rankings and providing tools to achieve positive health outcomes.
In the Resource Library, if you filter by “immunization coverage,” you’ll see a variety of literature, including policy briefs and tips on how to set up targeted immunization coverage. We have compiled this list of resources to help you dig deeper into specific steps you can take to promote immunization within your community.
America’s Health Rankings defines immunization coverage as the average percentage of children ages 19 to 35 months who have received the following vaccines: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP); poliovirus; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); and hepatitis B (HepB). But, as I explained, vaccinations are not just for early childhood. They are a safe and convenient way to prevent disease within the entire population.
I hope you will join me in making a commitment to immunizing your children and yourself.