Immunization is a community responsibility
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, coinciding conveniently with the back-to-school season and the start of fall, when the flu and other illnesses commonly make themselves more present in our daily lives. For some, such illnesses can mean a week stuck in bed on a diet of soups, hot tea and electrolyte beverages. For others, such as older adults or those with compromised immune systems, a serious bout of fall illness can prove to be a life-threatening experience.
For both camps of people, the importance of staying up to date on necessary immunizations cannot be understated.
Receiving routine vaccinations is crucial not only to the individual health of those they protect, but also to the public health of our community as a whole. Just one quick visit to the doctor’s office — and, for many, a day or so with a sore arm — can provide protection to the recipient and those around them from preventable illnesses.
“Preventable” is a key term here. The prevention of these illnesses relies on everyone doing their part.
Not everyone in our community may be able to receive these immunizations. Certain conditions, adverse reactions and other barriers can keep some residents from obtaining this layer of protection. These individuals need the support of their communities in the form of herd immunity — that is, when the majority of people in a community become immune to a disease, it becomes harder for that disease to spread and impact more vulnerable community members. When it comes to vaccines, when we protect ourselves, we protect others as well.
These vaccinations are vital throughout all stages of life, from infancy through older adulthood. August presents a prime time for families to ensure children are kept current on their school-required immunizations, keeping classrooms safe and preventing students from bringing illnesses home from the classroom and vice versa. It is also an opportune time for parents, young adults and everyone else in the community to ensure they are protected from the risks of the flu and RSV that are common during the fall.
Vaccinations have become a hotly debated subject throughout the United States in recent years. This phenomenon was perhaps most potently felt in recent history during the Covid-19 pandemic, during which public health mandates around vaccines, masks and social distancing drew no small share of backlash. Public health has become fiercely politicized in ways that can undermine safety, creating fear and uncertainty that prevent some individuals from receiving life-saving preventative care.
This August, we have the opportunity to provide our community’s health with a checkup. Residents can review their personal and family immunization histories, and discuss any concerns about safety and side effects with their providers.
Research has consistently shown that vaccinations are an effective way to dramatically reduce one’s risk of hospitalization, death and permanent complications from infectious diseases. Receiving routine immunizations in a timely manner is one simple step that can be taken to ensure the health of local families and the broader community this back-to-school season and beyond.
