National Immunization Month
What it is'
August is National Immunization Month for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the perfect time for the Army to remind Soldiers and Civilians and their family members about the importance of immunizations for adults and children-especially children preparing to enter or return to school or college as summer vacation ends. The DoD theme is "Immunization Health and the DoD family."
Immunizations are one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. Vaccines have helped eliminate smallpox worldwide and poliovirus in the U.S. and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella and other serious diseases. Despite these efforts, people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
What has the Army done'
The Army provides vaccinations in support of deployments and other missions, as part of annual exams and health assessments, school physicals, travel or in response to national emergencies or health crises as needed. Immunizations strengthen the body's own immune system and help the Army protect the heath of the force against preventable and infectious diseases. Without vaccinations and immunizations, diseases such as those above could easily return to infect, disable and even kill people of all ages.
What does the Army have planned for the future'
The DoD Military Health System (MHS) and the Military Vaccine (MILVAX) Agency are committed to providing quality vaccination service, care and education. The Army in collaboration with MHS will host regional and local outreach events at installations in August to educate Soldiers, family members and DoD civilians on the important role immunizations play in vaccine-preventable diseases.
Why is immunization awareness important to the Army'
Vaccines are an important part of Army readiness and offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases. By staying up-to-date on recommended vaccines, Soldiers and Army civilians help protect themselves, their families, co-workers, friends and their communities from serious, life-threatening infections.
Resources:
<a href="http://www.vaccines.mil" target="_blank">MILVAX website</a>
<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines" target="_blank"> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>
<a href="http://www.vhcinfo.org" target="_blank">Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network</a>
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