August 2010 Newsletter 
August is National Immunization Awareness Month 
With summer coming to a close and parents preparing to send kids back to school, August is a great time to catch up on immunizations. A year ago, many parents feared H1N1 due to a lack of knowledge about the virus at its onset and the slow availability of vaccine. This year's seasonal flu vaccine will contain protection from H1N1 as well as two other possible seasonal flu viruses. 
Georgia parents should be commended on getting their children 6-months to 18 years of age vaccinated against H1N1 last year. Georgia ranked above the national average in vaccinations for kids in this age range during the first six weeks the H1N1 vaccine was available. Help improve Georgia's overall immunization rates by getting your child vaccinated this year. Protection from the flu is just one of the many vaccinations necessary for school age kids. Click on the Wellcast icon to the right to learn more about childhood immunization myths and facts.* As you may have seen in the news lately, whooping cough (pertussis) continues to occur in our country. As children and adults age, the protection provided through infant and early childhood vaccines begins to diminish. It is recommended that all persons aged 10-64 receive a dose of TDaP vaccine to boost immunity to whooping cough (also boosts immunity to tetanus and diphtheria). It is especially important for those around very young infants that are not old enough to have been fully vaccinated to be up-to-date on all vaccinations. At this time there is not a TDaP vaccine for those over 65. * Wellcast information from MayoClinic.com. 
Immunization: Important During All Stages of Life 
Immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines have eliminated small pox and polio in the United States. Measles, whooping cough (pertussis) and the leading cause of meningitis in children under age 5 are among those that have been significantly reduced through vaccination. Vaccines protect not only the individual receiving them from infectious diseases, but also protect their families and communities by containing the spread of disease. Receiving immunizations throughout life is necessary to stay fully protected. Vaccinations begin shortly after birth and continue throughout adulthood. The charts below show the CDC's recommended immunization schedules for children through adults 
 
 Most vaccines are given to children during the first five to six years of life since they are more vulnerable to infection. As an adult, vaccines are given as boosters throughout life as well as to travelers to certain countries to protect against specific diseases. If you are traveling abroad, check first with your doctor to see if you need any vaccinations. For additional information on immunizations, log onto georgiahealthinfo.gov.