Back-to-school has arrived, which means school supply shopping, but it’s also the perfect time to make sure your kids have all of their immunizations. And, August is National Immunization Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the purpose of this observance is to highlight the importance of immunizations, one of the top 10 public health accomplishments of the 20th Century.

Immunizations (also known as vaccinations) aren’t just for kids—we all need to get them to protect us from minor, and sometimes deadly, diseases. Ensuring your child has all recommended vaccinations is one of the most important things parents can do. Children who are not vaccinated are at an increased risk for disease, which can be spread in the classroom and the community.

Vaccines are among the safest and most cost-effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. All vaccinations are thoroughly tested before licensing and carefully monitored after they are licensed. Having updated vaccinations could also help to reduce a child’s time missed from school due to illness, and could help to save you money on medical expenses.

People of certain ages should get immunizations to stay safe and healthy.

• Everyone older than six months needs a seasonal flu shot.
• Kids under six years old need a series of shots to protect against polio, measles, chicken pox and hepatitis.
• Kids between 11 and 12 years old need shots to protect against diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and meningitis.
• All adults should get a tetanus shot every 10 years, and adults at age 65 need a one-time pneumonia shot.

Please call your family doctor for more information, or you can visit one of our Urgent Care Office’s for any of your family’s immunization needs. Also, try to bring in any immunization records you have when visiting a doctor.

Let’s all use National Immunization Awareness Month as a reminder to make sure that everyone is caught up on their immunizations for a safer, healthier and happier eastern Idaho community.