August 2010

National Immunization Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness Month is celebrated each August to draw attention to the importance of keeping immunizations up-to-date by:

• Preparing children as they return to school
• Helping physicians' offices plan for the fall and winter flu season
• Readying first-time college students traveling to new dormitories and classrooms
• Focusing on the importance of immunizations for individual health and community wellness

Recommended immunization schedules for your patients vary by age, gender and health status. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the latest updates and guidelines on vaccinations for:

• Adults
• Children and Adolescents

Your office can print the following materials:

• Screening forms
• Flyers and posters
• Quizzes to identify immunization gaps in your adolescent and adult patients

Information on recalled vaccines and shortages is available to help track ongoing safety issues. The CDC also offers tips, strategies and checklists for increasing immunization rates, especially among adolescents and adults.

In February, the recommendation for annual influenza vaccination was expanded to include all people aged 6 months and older. The new recommendation takes effect during the 2010 - 2011 influenza season and seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization and signal the importance of preventing influenza across the entire population.


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