August is National Immunization Awareness Month - They Aren't just for kids.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Contrary to popular belief, immunizations are not just for kids. To be protected against serious illnesses, like measles and pneumonia, adults need to be vaccinated.

While there is a movement of people who do not believe in vaccinating (often referred to as anti-vaxxers), the usual culprit of ignored immunization is poverty and flaws in the public health system.

In March of 2018, it was reported that as many as 2.1 million American children aren't getting timely vaccinations. 

The United States isn't the only country with these issues. 

According to the World Health Organization, in 2017, an estimated 19.9 million infants worldwide were not vaccinated. 60% of those children lived in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa.

It is important for your child to get vaccinated to help protect from serious diseases. These are the shots that are recommended to give your kids before the age of 2:

For adults, the seasonal influenza vaccination (the flu shot) is recommended every year, especially for older adults and pregnant women.

Adults should also get the Tdap (Whooping Cough) vaccine if they were not given the shot as a child.

A TD (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot should be administered every 10 years.