August is National Immunization Awareness Month

Posted by Miles Dietz-Castel on August 10th, 2021 Posted in: Advocacy, Blog, Consumer Health, General, NLM Resources, Public Health

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August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts to protect those of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. This year’s theme is Get Back on Track with Routine Vaccines, aiming to educate and raise awareness about the importance of getting caught up on routine vaccinations.

Use NIAM as an opportunity to access CDC educational resources like the #HowIRecommend Video Series, which offers simple and practical guidance for having successful vaccine conversations with parents and patients. These short videos demonstrate how to make effective vaccine recommendations, address common vaccine questions, and take a team-based approach to vaccination.

For those who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, you play a critical role in helping vaccine recipients understand the importance of vaccination and that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Check out this toolkit on Talking to Recipients about COVID-19 Vaccination, where you will find resources to help you share clear and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination, and address common questions and concerns about what to expect when getting vaccinated.

Use #ivax2protect on social media to engage with public health and health care professionals throughout August and the rest of 2021. Learn more about immunization and infectious disease by exploring training available through the TRAIN Learning Network.

The Public Health Foundation has compiled a list of immunization and vaccination resources to share with your patrons.

• Public Health Foundation’s Immunization Center: Provides information that helps to improve the performance of individuals, programs, and organizations that are focused on increasing immunization rates in their communities.
• Toolkit for Reaching Healthcare Professionals: Find key messages, sample social media, graphics, and educational resources to help healthcare professionals discuss options for vaccination with their patients and to foster support for immunization in their practices.
• Resource Library for Vaccine Equity: Toolkits, data, working groups, and events curated to support those centering equity in vaccine distribution.
• Immunization Action Coalition: Access to hundreds of vaccination-related handouts and fact sheets for healthcare professionals.
• Toolkit for Achieving Vaccine Equity: Includes resources for near-term solutions to address the challenge of achieving vaccine equity, and long-term efforts to address historic and structural health injustices.