This August, Stop the Spread of Preventable Disease
Routine vaccines have dropped 14% since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This August, remember this 1 step to protect your health and stop the spread.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month and it arrives on the heels of a year in which countless lives have been lost due to COVID-19. Hospitals in the United States and around the world are reaching their maximum capacities, with resources stretched far too thin. It is our duty to ourselves and to those around us to remain as healthy as possible and stop the spread of COVID-19.
Making sure you and your children are up to date on the vaccines for COVID-19 and other common viruses is a critical step in protecting yourself, your loved ones, and minimizing the current burden placed on hospitals. During this National Immunization Awareness Month we urge you to check your vaccination status and consult a physician to update any vaccines you may need.
Why Vaccinate?
Vaccination is a highly effective and manageable way to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.
While it is understandable to be initially apprehensive when receiving a new vaccine, whether it’s your COVID-19 vaccine or your child’s first vaccine, it’s important to remember that all vaccines are rigorously tested and checked for their safety and effectiveness before being offered to the public.
Prompt vaccination is an essential preventative step that protects not only your own well-being, but also the health of those around you. This is especially true for those who are caregivers for cancer patients or spend time around friends and family members with cancer. Cancer patients are immunocompromised and thus vulnerable to falling ill to a virus.
COVID-19 Vaccines Are Proven Effective
The available COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing and significantly reducing the severity of the disease. The risk of spreading the virus is also reduced upon complete vaccination.
Protecting yourself will decrease the risk of complications connected to COVID-19 and may help shield any of your loved ones who may be immunocompromised. The COVID-19 vaccines are widely accessible in the United States, and everyone over the age of 12 is recommended to receive their vaccination as soon as possible.
Childhood Vaccines
As a parent, it is important to stay up to date with your child’s vaccines. Your baby should get their first dose of the hepatitis vaccine shortly after birth. Like many other vaccines, additional booster doses will be required to strengthen immunity and protect against the germs that change over time, like the flu. In particular, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for all children over 11 years of age, as well as women through age 26 and men through age 21.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease. It has been linked to the development of throat cancer, with about 70% of all oropharyngeal cancers caused by one strain of HPV. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself against HPV and HPV-related cancers. Please ensure you and your children have received vaccinations for HPV and other common viruses.
Vaccines for Adults
While you may be focused on keeping your children up to date on their vaccines, don’t forget to take care of yourself, too! All adults should receive the flu vaccine annually prior to October. Additionally, the Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine must be administered every ten years.
Be sure to inquire about the shingles vaccine if you are above 50 years old and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) after 65. Younger adults may require additional vaccines based on their health conditions and lifestyle. Consult a physician to learn more about the vaccines you may need.
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