National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), an annual observance that highlights the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Together, we can help raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and encourage people to talk to a healthcare provider they trust about staying up to date on their vaccinations.
In support of NIAM, CDC invites you to:
Share CDC’s updated NIAM Promotional Resources with your networks to raise awareness on the importance of vaccinations across the lifespan.
Use evidence-based strategies and resources to help discuss recommended vaccinations with your patients during NIAM and throughout the year.
Share the updated parent-friendly immunization schedule with parents and caregivers.
To encourage prenatal vaccination, visit “From Me, To You,” a CDC communication effort informed by feedback from Black pregnant people to celebrate the beauty of Black parenthood. Promotional materials are available!
To promote seasonal flu vaccination, visit CDC’s digital media toolkit that showcases the Wild to Mild and the Get My Flu Shot campaigns.
Help Get Routine Immunizations Back on Track and Protect Children
CDC data show that vaccination coverage among kindergarteners has declined to its lowest level in decades and an estimated 750,000 young learners entered kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic who were not up to date on their school vaccinations. A recent uptick in global and domestic measles cases and outbreaks underscore that under- and unvaccinated children are at risk for serious illness.
Routine immunization catch-up is a goal we can achieve by working together. CDC calls upon healthcare providers, education professionals, and trusted community messengers (with materials also available in Spanish) to help keep kids healthy, in school, and ready to learn.
Check out and use CDC’s resources:
Learn about the Let’s RISE initiative.
Help share facts about routine vaccines, including that vaccines are safe.
Share childhood vaccination digital content from CDC’s “Keeps It That Way” communication effort and catch-up messages on your websites and social media channels.
Remind and recall families whose child is behind on vaccinations to get up to date.
Expand access to vaccines by knowing where to refer a child for free vaccines and/or support school-located vaccination clinics.
Share vaccination toolkits to support strengthening school vaccination coverage:
Early care and education providers: Vaccination Toolkit for Early Care and Education Providers
Schools: Ways Schools Can Support Routine Vaccination Catch-Up Among School-Aged Children
Healthcare providers: Evidence-based Strategies and Resources to Increase Routine Vaccination Rates and Confidence
Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus (H5N1 Bird Flu) Key Points
On July 19, 2024, CDC published a web spotlight that provides an update on CDC’s H5N1 bird flu response activities.
On July 14, 2024, CDC posted a press release about four human cases of H5 bird flu among Colorado poultry workers.
CDC Posts Updated Standing Orders for Adult Mpox Vaccination
CDC issued Standing Orders for Administering JYNNEOS (Mpox) Vaccine by Subcutaneous Injection to Persons 18 Years of Age and Older to support the reduction of morbidity and mortality from mpox through vaccination.
This document replaces CDC’s older standing orders templates that predated the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ October 2023 interim recommendations for routine use of mpox vaccine in adults at risk of exposure to mpox.
CDC’s “COVID-19 Can Surge Throughout the Year” Webpage Shows Why Year-round Vaccine Protection is Needed
CDC published COVID-19 Can Surge Throughout the Year, a webpage that explains the current understanding of COVID-19 epidemiology, highlighting the year-round threat of COVID-19 disease.
CDC continues to monitor seasonal trends of COVID-19 and the factors driving these trends, including the emergence of new variants.
New on the Vaccine Resource Hub:
Make sure you check out the Funding Opportunities Page, which includes several open funding opportunities and a link to a federal grants training curriculum.
Check out the refreshed Create Resources page of the Vaccine Resource Hub. This page offers digital elements related to vaccination to support you as you create your own educational materials. The page is now organized by health topic to help you easily navigate to the icons and digital elements most relevant to your educational materials!
Vaccine Resource Hub Roadmaps
All Vaccinations
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