August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NAIM) and , Trinity Muscatine Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) are calling for Iowans of all ages to protect themselves against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“The pandemic greatly impacted all aspects of life, including the ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations,” said Christy Roby, Director of Trinity Muscatine Public Health. “During National Immunization Awareness Month, all Iowans are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider to make sure all family members are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.”

For children, including those ages two and younger, attending regular child well-visits and receiving recommended vaccinations are essential for staying healthy and protecting against serious diseases, such as measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and chickenpox. Adolescents require additional vaccines to ensure they are protected.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among children born from 1994-2021, vaccinations will prevent an estimated 472 million illnesses, over one million deaths and 29.8 million hospitalizations.

“Adults should also talk with their healthcare provider about immunizations, to be sure they are up to date on all vaccinations, including shingles,” said Roby. “Certain health conditions can also increase the risk of complications from some vaccine-preventable diseases. The CDC offers an online adult vaccine assessment tool, which provides a list of recommended vaccines based on your age, health conditions and lifestyle.

For any questions regarding your child’s vaccine requirements please call your primary healthcare provider or give your local public health department a call for consultation and to see if you qualify for our Vaccine for Children Program.  Trinity Muscatine Public Health cares about the health and well-being of our Muscatine County residents.  For more information give us a call at 563-263-0122.

Iowans can find the latest recommendations and immunization schedules on the Iowa HHS website at HHS.Iowa.gov/immtb/immunization/schedule.

Notification:

This content has been provided via a press release or other notification system to Discover Muscatine. It is being published as a resource for the Muscatine community. Our editorial staff reserves the right to make revisions or edits for correctness, clarity, or length. All questions regarding this content should be directed to the contributor, Trinity Muscatine Public Health.