Children are exposed to thousands of germs every day. On-time immunizations help provide immunity against potentially life-threatening diseases before children are exposed to them.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended immunizations. Making sure that your child sees their doctor for well-child visits and recommended immunizations is one of the best things you can do to protect your child and community from serious diseases that are easily spread. Many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations during the past two years. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend children catch up on routine childhood immunizations following disruptions from COVID-19.
Get the Facts
- Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough.
- Diseases are extremely contagious and can be very serious, especially for babies and young children.
- In recent years, there have been outbreaks of diseases, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.
- The national immunization coverage among kindergarten children during the 2020-2021 school year dropped by about 1% from the previous year— that amounts to 35,000 more children without immunization documents.
Read: Diseases & the Vaccines that Prevent Them
Take Action
- Work with your child’s doctor or nurse to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended immunizations.
- If you are pregnant, talk to your prenatal care provider about recommended immunizations.
- All pregnant people are recommended to get a whooping cough shot (Tdap) during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy. Getting a Tdap vaccine during pregnancy provides the best protection against whooping cough for you and your baby in the first few months of life before your baby is old enough to get their own whooping cough shots.
- A flu shot during any trimester of each pregnancy provides the best protection against flu for you and can also protect your baby for the first several months after birth when they are too young to be immunized.
- Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about any routine shots your child may have missed.
- The immunization schedule is designed to provide immunity (protection) early in life before children are likely to be exposed to serious, potentially life-threatening diseases.
Call Community Health Net to schedule an appointment with a provider today: (814) 455-7222. Or visit www.communityhealthnet.org for more information.
Our health information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist the public in learning more about their health. Community Health Net providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein.
Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Health Facts is a public service partnership of Community Health Net and CF Cares of Country Fair Stores, Inc.