August is National Immunization Awareness Month
News From the San Diego Immunization Coalition
Everybody, young and old and in between, needs vaccination to keep them healthy.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), and the San Diego Immunization Coalition urges everyone to make sure they have the shots they need.
NIAM celebrates the benefits of vaccination and its importance for people of all ages. NIAM features several themes related to the overall purpose of the observance:
Throughout August: Ready for school? Check those vaccine records!—(School-Aged Children)
Week 1 (Jul. 31-Aug.6) - Babies and Young Children: A healthy start begins with on-time vaccination
Week 2 (Aug. 7-13) - Pregnant Women: Protect yourself and pass protection on to your baby
Week 3 (Aug. 14-20) - Adults: Vaccines are not just for kids
Week 4 (Aug. 21-27) - Preteens and Teens: Ensure a healthy future with vaccines
During August, the San Diego Immunization Program website ( will share information and resources to help celebrate NIAM. Resources will include social media messages, e-mail signature lines, web banners, logos and more. Please use these resources to spread the word about the importance of immunizations to your friends, family, co-workers and others in your community.
Vaccines can prevent serious diseases like measles, flu, whooping cough and hepatitis. It’s important to know which shots you need to get and when to get them. Immunization is a key part of the Building Better Health component of Live Well San Diego, a countywide initiative to improve the health and well-being of local residents.
Babies need shots at 2, 4, 6, and 12-18 months to protect against diseases like measles and whooping cough. Older kids also need vaccine protection from diseases—especially before they start school. And some shots are required before school entry.
Adults need shots, too—they aren’t automatically immune to diseases like meningococcal disease or pneumonia. Pregnant women should get a Tdap vaccine in the 3rd trimester of every pregnancy, to help protect their babies from pertussis. And everyone age 6 months and older needs a seasonal flu shot every year.
Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure that everyone in the family gets the shots they need. For more information about immunizations and the diseases they protect against, visit the San Diego Immunization Program’s website at the other websites listed below:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccines and Immunizations Page
August is National Immunization Awareness Month—2
ShotByShot.org – Stories of vaccine-preventable diseases
Vaccinate Your Baby
California Department of Public Health Shots for School Page
California Department of Public Health Immunization Branch Main Page
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center
Help spread the word about immunization by tweetingwith the hashtag #NIAM17.
The San Diego Immunization Coalition (SDIC), active since 1992, is one of the oldest continuously operating immunization coalitions in the nation. To learn more about the Coalition, visit .
7/2017