National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which is held to observe the importance and need for education about vaccines.Diseases and viruses still occur,这就是为什么它是至关重要的接种疫苗对吗nst these factors that can resurge due to unvaccinated people encountering them.Vaccines can “protect individuals from specific pathogens, help boost the body's immune system, prevent infection, and reduce disease severity,” says Paula Cuccaro, PhD,assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health.疫苗是仔细研究和推荐的our medical professionals who spend years studying the benefits and any adverse effects.

Recentconversations surrounding vaccines havecreated a prevalent issue within public health, with medical professionalsbattlingagainst misinformation. Those administering vaccines should addresshesitancies somemayhave by holding“respectful conversations...address any misinformation; share the benefits of vaccines, curate honest information, and rebuild the trust that has been lost in science and public health,”stated Cuccaro.

Vaccines have changed life expectancy and allowed people to fight common diseases that once ravaged communities.Modern medicine and education have influenced thecontinuanceof human innovation, where we can protect ourselves and others by being vaccinated.Yet, we have begun to see the issue of unvaccinated populations spreading diseases once thought to be eradicated.

Polio,oncedeclared eliminatedfrom the U.S.in1979, has had a resurgence inaNewYorkCountyduring the summer of 2022. “The recent infection in NY state was in an unvaccinated individual in a county with a low vaccination rate (only 60%)Polioiscontrolledwith an immunization rate ofabout 80%.NY state overallhas avaccinationrateof about79%.” quoted Cuccaro. These instances occur when the populationis notvaccinated, which then begins to spread and put those who haveencounteredthis person at risk of disease, disabilities, anddeath.

As we approach the beginning of flu season, which begins in September and ends in May, it is especially important to get the recommended doses. “The more pathogens that we can protect ourselves against with vaccines, the better equipped our bodies will be to fight off anything that can’t be prevented with vaccines,” said Cuccaro. Year-round we are at-risk of illness, but with the increase of COVID-19 and Monkeypox cases we should ensure our bodies are at peak health by takingrecommended vaccines.

UTHealth Houston is currently offering the completeCOVID-19vaccine series, additional doses, and booster doses of the Pfizer and Modernavaccines. UTHealth Houstonvaccinationsand background information can be foundhere.