Aug. Nat. Immunization Awareness Month

  August is National Immunization Month, according to Dare county Department of Public Health which is encouraging everyone to make sure they are current on their vaccinations.

  ”Vaccine preventable diseases and their complications are responsible for more than 30,000 deaths in the United States each year,” said Anne Thomas, director of DCDPH. ” Ensuring your families’ vaccinations are up-to-date is an effective way to prevent serious life-threatening diseases.”

  Vaccines are important across the life span. From a child getting vaccinated against measles and whooping cough to an adolescent being protected against meningitis, to an older adult avoiding the pain of shingles, there are good reasons for everyone to stay current with their immunizations and discuss vaccines with their health care provider.

  Because children are particularly vulnerable to infections, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life. With back-to-school time just around the corner, the DCDPH would like to remind parents to be sure and have their children get all immunizations.