It’s National Immunization Awareness Month. Are you up to date?

No one looks forward to getting a shot, but routine immunization plays a key role in keeping us healthy. This month, during National Immunization Awareness Month, get the facts about these wellness protectors.

First, let's break down some basic terms that can be confusing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines immunization as gaining protection against a disease.

While the term is often used interchangeably with vaccination, vaccines are the tools used for immunization, designed "to stimulate the body's immune response against diseases." Vaccines are usually provided through an injection or shot but may also come in different forms, such as a nasal spray.

Why do you need vaccines? Keep reading, as the West Jefferson Medical Center team explains.

The facts about National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month {NIAM), first recognized in 2013. This month is designated to raise awareness about the importance of routine immunization for children and adults.

You may have seen colored ribbons used to signify awareness months for specific medical conditions, including different types of cancer. National Immunization Awareness Month has a symbol of its own—a cute little bandage shaped into a heart.

During the awareness month and beyond, healthcare providers are encouraged to spread the word about routine vaccines their patients need. At your next checkup, your primary care provider may discuss the immunizations you need to stay healthy and protected.

The lifesaving role of vaccines

Did you ever play Oregon Trail as a kid? If so, you probably died at least once from a condition like diphtheria. This disease isn't a dire concern these days in the U.S. because of vaccines!

Vaccines prevent many serious illnesses that previously caused significant disability or even death. That includes conditions that were common among Oregon Trail pioneers but also diseases such as polio that crippled many people less than a century ago, including President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. First given in 1955, the polio vaccine helped fully eradicate polio in the U.S. by 1979.

Vaccines help protect the person receiving them but offer broader protection. Each person vaccinated against a disease helps protect those too young to be vaccinated or who can't receive a vaccine for some other reason, a phenomenon known as the "cocoon" effect.

The vaccines you need now

Many people think of immunization as something for kids. While several routine vaccines are recommended during childhood, adults also need vaccines.

The CDC recommends that nearly all people age 6 months and older receive annual flu vaccines each year. It's also essential to stay up to date with new COVID-19 vaccines, which are formulated to fight the latest strains in circulation.

You should also receive a Tdap booster every 1O years to protect you against tetanus,

diphtheria, and whooping cough. In addition, certain vaccines are recommended only for adults.

Sometime after age 50, for example, adults should get two doses of a shingles vaccine and, after age 65, be immunized against pneumonia. At age 60, talk with your provider about whether you should have a dose of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

No matter your age, immunization can help protect your health. Why not give yourself the best shot at staying healthy?

Has it been a while since you had a checkup? Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider and discuss what vaccines you need!