To celebrate the importance of immunizations for a healthy start and throughout our lives, and to make sure children are protected with all the vaccines they need, the Vermont Department of Health is joining with partners nationwide in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month.

“Children who don’t receive recommended vaccines are at greater risk for not only getting a preventable disease but having a more severe case,” said Christine Finley, Immunization Program director at the Vermont Department of Health. “Every dose of every vaccine is important to protect your child and others in the community from infectious diseases.

Talk to your health care provider to make sure your child is up to date on all the vaccines he or she needs.” Also visit the It’s Ok to Ask website (http://oktoaskvt.org) where Vermont parents can find accurate, detailed information about immunizations.

Today’s childhood vaccines protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough and chickenpox.

There are many important reasons to make sure your child is vaccinated:

· Immunizations can protect your child from 14 serious diseases.

· Vaccination is very safe and effective.

· Immunizations can protect others you care about.

· Immunization can save your family time and money.

When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their family and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions.

For more information visit www.healthvermont.gov. You can also follow the health department on Twitter or join them on Facebook for health information and alerts.