Everyone Needs Vaccines from the Start & Throughout Our Lives! National Immunization Awareness Month Concludes

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August 31, 2015

Contact: Mary C. St. Mary / Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov

Phone: (716) 858-4941 / Mobile: (716)253-3925         

Everyone Needs Vaccines from the Start & Throughout Our Lives!

National Immunization Awareness Month Concludes 

ERIE COUNTY, NY —To celebrate the importance of immunizations for a healthy start and throughout our lives – and to make sure everyone is protected with all the vaccines they need – the Erie County Department of Health (“ECDOH”) joined with partners nationwide in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month. The month concludes with a dual focus on vaccines recommended for adults and on vaccines recommended from birth to two years of age.Banner-Nat Immunization Wk 3

Every year, thousands of adults in the United States suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized, or even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccination.

National Immunization Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to make sure adults are protected against diseases like flu, whooping cough, tetanus, shingles and pneumococcal disease.

The specific vaccines adults need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, risk conditions, locations of travel, and previous vaccines. All adults should talk to their health care providers about which vaccines are right for them. 

“There is a misconception among many adults that vaccines are just for children,”said Erie County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale Burstein. “The truth is you never outgrow the need for immunizations. In addition, many of these vaccines do not require a prescription and several may be available at your local pharmacy.” 

Parents have the safe and proven power to protect their children from 14 serious and potentially deadly diseases before they turn two years old. “All parents are responsible for giving their children a healthy start in life,” Burstein said. “Children who do not receive recommended vaccines are at risk of getting the disease, and of having a severe case of that illness. Every dose of vaccine is important to protect not only your child, but the community at large from infectious diseases. Talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional to ensure your child is up to date on all the vaccines he or she needs.”National Immunization Wk 4Today’s childhood vaccines protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox. When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to other in their family and community—including babies who are too young to be vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. 

Information about vaccines recommended for adults may be found at: www.cdc.gov/vaccines  or by calling the ECDOH’s Immunization Action Plan at 716-858-2373. 

For more information:         

Erie County Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention