National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. COVID-19 has led to steep declines in routine immunization, making the need to improve childhood immunization especially urgent. Health centers play a critical role! Research shows the strongest predictor of whether a patient gets vaccinated is a recommendation from their health care professional.
To encourage patients and stakeholders to keep up with immunizations, the CDC has produced toolkits and resources to help health care professionals communicate with their patients about immunization. Find the following resources in the toolkit:
- Key messages to help ensure patients stay up to date on their vaccines.
- Sample social media to communicate the benefits of immunization during National Immunization Awareness Month.
- Graphics for social media platforms and use on websites, newsletters, and other materials.
- Educational resources.
CDC’s recent “Interim Guidance for Immunization Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic” can also help your health center plan for safe vaccine administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We encourage health centers to join a related webinar from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP):
Hepatitis A Vaccination for People Experiencing Homelessness
Thursday, August 20
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Experts from the CDC will join to discuss new CDC-developed resources and strategies to vaccinate this at-risk population.