Summer is winding down for us and we’re soaking up every last bit. August is always jam-packed with visits up north to the lake to see grandparents and backyard weekends in the inflatable pool. It’s also when Willa, my oldest daughter, goes in for her well-check visits. This year she had her four-year office visit (how?!) and had to get two shots, each with two vaccines, for a total of four. Fitting for this year’s birthday!
It’s also National Immunization Awareness Month.
August is also National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Each year, NIAM focuses on why it’s so important for parents to help kids of all ages to stick to their regular vaccination schedule. Check out the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule if you need a quick reminder. Use this as a guide to make sure you’re on track and catch any missed vaccines. A quick call to your child’s pediatrician also helps confirm vaccination status.
If you do happen to find out that your child is not caught up on their immunizations yet this summer, there’s still time!
Back-to-school season is an ideal time to get caught up on vaccines.
Now is the prime time to catch your children up before school begins. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many families fell behind in their well-check visits and some students (or soon-to-be students) are not protected against preventable diseases.
Rubella used to cause serious problems for about 20,000 newborns every year with birth defects and disabilities. Measles wasn’t any better, infecting almost 4 million kids annually. But the MMR vaccine, at 12 months and 4 years old (which Willa just got!), guards against both of these illnesses. It slashes infection rates for these diseases by a whopping 99.9%.
As you get ready to send your kids back to school, it’s also a good reminder to think about the kids who can’t receive vaccines. Your child’s immunization helps protect those that can’t safely get vaccinated. We’re not just looking out for our own little ones. What we want is community immunity. That happens when about 90-95% of the population gets their shots, which puts a stop to these diseases trying to spread. These vaccinations don’t just play bodyguard for our kids; they also give a hand to those with weaker immune systems, chronic issues, or higher chances of getting sick.
Vaccines are proven safe and effective.
Immunizations are the ultimate guardians for our kiddos, and they play a vital role in safeguarding not just our own family, but our whole community.
Vaccines have a track record of safety. They go through this rigorous process—think 15 to 20 years of scrutiny before they even come close to our kids. And they’re no joke when it comes to testing—scientists, statisticians, and healthcare professionals put them through the paces to prove both safety and efficacy.
And up next for our family—our annual flu shots in September!
I Vaccinate Partnership
I’ve partnered with I Vaccinate to share my story and this content is sponsored by I Vaccinate. I Vaccinate provides information and tools based on medical science and research to help parents protect their kids. For more information, visit IVaccinate.org.
