National Immunization Awareness Month highlights importance of routine childhood vaccines

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time dedicated to encouraging families to stay informed about recommended vaccinations and speak with their health care providers about keeping children up to date.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, following the recommended childhood immunization schedule helps protect babies, children and teens from serious diseases by providing immunity before they are most likely to be exposed. 

Dr. Kelly Kries, a pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group, said infancy is one of the most important times to build that protection because young children are especially vulnerable to illness.

“The very old and the very young are the most vulnerable,” Kries said. “We want to get infants protected as safely as possible and as quickly as possible.”

Doctors say routine well-child visits allow pediatricians to monitor a child’s growth and development while ensuring vaccinations are administered at the recommended ages.

Vaccines given during childhood help protect against illnesses such as whooping cough, polio, meningitis, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Many vaccines are given during a child’s first year of life, when their immune system is still developing. 

For families concerned that a child may have missed a vaccine, Kries said it’s not too late.

“If a child has fallen behind on their vaccinations, it’s fairly easy to catch up,” she said. “Depending on their age and what they’ve already received, we can develop a catch-up schedule that’s appropriate for them.”

Health experts encourage parents and caregivers to talk with their child’s pediatrician if they have questions about recommended immunizations or whether their child is up to date.

National Immunization Awareness Month is observed each August to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination for people of all ages and to encourage conversations between families and trusted health care providers.