As we close out August 2024, we want to take a moment as a Division to recognize National Immunization Awareness Month. Held every August, this observance gives healthcare professionals and the public a chance to highlight the incredible importance of vaccination and to encourage conversations with providers to ensure that all are up to date on their vaccinations.
From the yearly flu vaccine to those targeted at serious pathogens of different stages of life, like the Pneumococcal οr Varicella (chickenpox) vaccines, staying up to date on these critical medical interventions is one of the best things we can do to protect ourselves from serious diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) have great resources to facilitate the goal of increased vaccine compliance, which are linked below. These resources can answer vaccine-related questions or help providers identify and offer appropriate vaccinations.
With the 2025 flu season nearly upon us, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC have also updated their vaccination recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza, among others. Additionally, the FDA has just approved updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines targeting the currently circulating Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. For more information about these changes and the upcoming respiratory virus season, attend the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) webinar later this week (August 29th @ 12pm CST; register here).
More Helpful Links:
- APC Adult Immunization Center, which provides patient and provider education material on vaccines as well as up-to-date information on vaccine schedules and new formulations
- CDC National Immunization Awareness Month Hub, which provides practical tips for talking to patients about vaccinations, as well as resources for patients to identify if and which vaccines they or their children may be missing