polioEach year in August National Immunization Awareness Month provides an opportunity to highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) immunizations are one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th century.

While immunizations have significantly reduced the incidence of many serious infectious diseases, vaccination rates for some diseases are not meeting national public health goals. Immunizations aren’t just for children. They are needed throughout our lifetime.

The National Immunization Awareness Month Communication Toolkit was developed by the National Public Health Information Coalition, in collaboration with the CDC, to help communicate the importance of vaccination throughout the lifespan.

Each week of National Immunization Awareness Month focuses on a different stage of the lifespan. This week the focus is on adults (Aug. 11-22), and next week the focus will be on infants and children (Aug. 23-29). Please join us in promoting the value of immunizations by utilizing the tools in the toolkit. Together we can help promote healthy communities in Arizona.