LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and the Lake County Public Health Department is joining agencies across the country to highlight vaccine use.
The agency said the annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life.
Officials said vaccines offer you the power to protect yourself and your family against serious diseases, like whooping cough, cancers caused by HPV, and pneumonia.
During National Immunization Awareness Month, Lake County Public Health encourages you talk to your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional to ensure you, your child, and your family are up to date on recommended vaccines.
Local health officials also encourage you to visit CDC’s Interactive Vaccine Guide, which provides information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy and throughout your child’s life.
Lake County Public Health offers the following information.
Childhood/adolescent
Vaccines are among the most effective ways to protect against serious diseases. Many vaccine-preventable diseases are no longer common thanks to vaccines, which are tested to ensure they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.
As your children head back to school this fall, make sure vaccination is at the top of your checklist. August is a key time to make sure you are up to date on all the vaccines you need to stay healthy and complaint with school requirements.
Pregnant women
The Tdap and flu vaccines are very safe to receive during pregnancy, and help prevent harm to you and your developing baby.
A 2018 study showed that getting a flu shot reduced a pregnant woman’s risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40 percent, and a 2017 CDC evaluation found Tdap vaccination during the third trimester of pregnancy prevents more than three in four cases of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months old.
Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective to receive during pregnancy.
Adults
Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Adults may need vaccines to protect against whooping cough, the flu, types of pneumonia, and shingles. If you have diabetes, some illnesses like flu can make it harder to control your blood sugar (glucose). Make sure you are up to date on your vaccines.
Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines may be right for you. Ask your doctor about the vaccines you need to be protected against serious diseases.
Public Health celebrates National Immunization Awareness Month
- Lake County News reports
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