Nitya Mangina, MPH, Makenna Holman, MPH, CHES, and Donia Dalal, MPH, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Immunization.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients of all ages against vaccine preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. With the new school year about to start and respiratory season right around the corner, it’s a great time to remind your patients, and people in your community, that getting all recommended vaccines protects against serious illness.
During NIAM, encourage your patients to schedule appointments to ensure they are up to date on recommended vaccines. Research has consistently shown that healthcare providers are the most trusted source of vaccine information for parents and patients.
As a health care professional, your strong recommendation is a critical factor in whether your patients get vaccinated. Most adults believe vaccines are important, but they need a reminder from you to get vaccinated. After making your recommendation, follow up with each patient during subsequent appointments to ensure they received all their recommended vaccines. If a patient still is unvaccinated, repeat the recommendation and try to identify and address any questions or concerns.
CDC suggests using the SHARE method to make a strong vaccine recommendation and provide important information to help patients make informed decisions about vaccinations:
SHARE the reasons why recommend vaccines are beneficial for the patient given their age, health status, lifestyle, occupation, or other risk factors.
HIGHLIGHT positive experiences with vaccines (personal or in your practice), as appropriate, to reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in vaccination.
ADDRESS patient questions and any concerns about vaccines, including side effects, safety, and vaccine effectiveness in plain and understandable language.
REMIND patients that vaccines help protect them and their loved ones from serious illnesses and complications that can result in hospitalization.
EXPLAIN the potential costs of getting vaccines, including potential serious health effects for the patient, time lost (such as missing work or family obligations), financial costs, and potentially spreading illnesses to more vulnerable family or friends.
Vaccines are one of the safest preventive care measures available and help play a vital role in keeping others healthy. When skipping vaccines, individuals are vulnerable to illnesses such as shingles, influenza (flu), and HPV and hepatitis B–both leading causes of cancer.
Many children have fallen behind on routine vaccinations, putting them at risk for diseases like measles, pneumonia, and chickenpox. Uninsured and underinsured children are eligible for free or low-cost vaccines through the federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
Primary care providers are considered the most trustworthy source of vaccination information for patients and parents. Therefore, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) encourages providers to leverage National Immunization Awareness Month to improve care, staff commitment, and expertise in advocating for vaccinations, and protecting against severe and life-threatening diseases.
Let’s RISE is a CDC initiative to provide actionable strategies, resources, and data to support getting all Americans back on-schedule with their routine immunizations to protect everyone from vaccine-preventable disease and disability.
Routine Immunizations on Schedule for Everyone (RISE) | CDC
Use NIAM as an opportunity to access CDC educational resources like the #HowIRecommend Video Series, which offers simple and practical guidance for having successful vaccine conversations with parents and patients. These short videos demonstrate how to make effective vaccine recommendations, address common vaccine questions, and take a team-based approach to vaccination.
