August

National Immunization Awareness Month

Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Immunization, or vaccination, helps prevent dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases. Immunization isn’t just for kids — to stay protected against serious illnesses like the flu, measles, and pneumonia, adults need to get vaccinated too.

National Immunization Awareness Month is a great time to promote vaccines and remind family, friends, and coworkers to stay up to date on their shots.

How can National Immunization Awareness Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about vaccines and share strategies to increase immunization rates with our community.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Talk to friends and family members about how vaccines aren’t just for kids. People of all ages can get shots to protect them from serious diseases.
• Encourage people in your community to get the flu vaccine every year.
• Invite a doctor or nurse to speak to parents about why it’s important for all kids to get vaccinated.

How can I help spread the word?

We’ve made it easier for you to make a difference! This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:

• Add information about immunizations to your newsletter.
• Tweet about National Immunization Awareness Month.
• Host a community event where families can get together and learn about immunizations.
• Add this Web badge to your website, blog, or social networking profile.

• Sample Announcement
• Sample Tweets
• E-cards
• Web Badge
• Get Involved
• Share These Resources
• More Information

Get the Word Out

Get Involved

Take action to raise awareness about the importance of immunizations.

1. Organize a free or low-cost immunization clinic at a local community or health center.
2. Remind people to write down the names and dates of their recent shots, so that they can track which shots they’ve had and which they still need.
3. Partner with a school nurse to host an educational event for parents about the importance of immunizations.
4. Post fliers around your office to remind people to get their shots.
5. Work with local summer camps to make sure children get important shots before attending camp.

For more information and materials, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdcinfo@cdc.gov.

Share These Resources

Find More Information

• Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• Immunization Schedules
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• Vaccines & Immunizations
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• Parents’ Guide to Childhood Immunizations
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention