August is National Immunization Month

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National Immunization Awareness Month

Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. NIAM was established to encourage people of all ages to make sure they are up to date on the vaccines recommended for them. Communities have continued to use the month each year to raise awareness about the important role vaccines play in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases.

NIAM is sponsored by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC). For more information on the observance, visit NPHIC’s NIAM website.

Communication Toolkits

NPHIC, in collaboration with CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, developed communication toolkits to help you communicate about vaccines for various audiences. Each week of #NIAM16 focuses on a different stage of the lifespan:

  • Adults (Aug. 1-7)
  • Pregnant women (Aug. 8-14)
  • Babies and young children (Aug. 15-21)
  • Preteens and teens (Aug. 22-28)

There is also an abbreviated toolkit for school-aged children to help you remind parents to get their children vaccinated before the school year starts.

The toolkits include sample key messages, media materials, social media messages, FAQs, and web links and resources. You can also get eye-catching NIAM logos and banners to highlight your participation in NIAM on your social media profiles. A media outreach toolkit is one of the new resources available this year to help you reach out to media on immunization-related topics. To download the toolkits, visit NPHIC’s NIAM website.

Find CDC Immunization Resources

CDC develops immunization materials our partners can use in local outreach and education efforts during NIAM and throughout the year. Below are links to materials you can use during NIAM and beyond to

  • Remind parents of the important role vaccines play in protecting their child’s health and answer their questions about vaccines
  • Encourage college students to talk to their healthcare professional about any vaccines they may need for school entry
  • Educate adults, especially older adults and adults with chronic conditions, about vaccines they may need
  • Educate pregnant women about getting vaccinated to protect newborns from diseases like whooping cough (pertussis) and flu
  • Remind everyone that the next flu season is only a few months away

Check with your state or local health department to see if they have additional immunization resources you can use during NIAM, or plans to celebrate the month.

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News
Department: 
Public Health