August is National Immunization Awareness Month. As we head back to school this is the perfect time to take action and help families get the protection they need.
Vaccines can go a long way toward eliminating infectious diseases and saving lives. Many of us have never heard the sound of a child with whooping cough. We may never have seen a child covered with chickenpox or swollen from the mumps. So we forget, that every year children still contract these preventable diseases, get very sick, and some may die. So far, 2013 has seen major outbreaks of measles in New York and North Carolina. It has also seen major outbreaks of pertussis (whooping cough) in Texas, Oregon, Washington, and other states.
Educators and schools can play an important role helping families get the immunizations they need. In this two part series, NEA HIN looks at vaccines, vaccine-preventable diseases and what you can do.
Defending against vaccine-preventable diseases
The first line of defense is strong state requirements for proof of vaccine before attending school. In a report issued on August 2, 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported high levels of vaccine coverage for kindergarten students across the country. While rates vary across the country, those states that allow the fewest exemptions have higher rates of coverage. Mississippi led the nation with 99.9% of students up to date on Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) and Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP).
The second line of defense is making vaccines available to families who might be behind on their coverage or not have access to primary care. The National Association of School Nurses has outlined in their 2013 Policy Statement, the benefits of school-located vaccine programs. School nurses and other school health professionals play an important role in creating those programs and building relationships with health departments and other providers.
The third line of defense is advocacy. All members of the school community including educators, administrators, and parents can help to carry the message of immunization for students and adults. Advocacy for Vaccines from NEA HIN provides an overview of what you can do to help build support in your school.
In Part 2 of this blog (appearing August 13) we look at some of the tools and resources out there for you to use. If you have questions or suggestions on resources we can include, please share them in the comments or email us at [email protected].
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