STC Blog
August is National Immunization Awareness Month!Deborah Allwes – STC Sr. Public Health Advisor
In celebration of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), recognized each August, Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC) is reflecting on the history and future of states’ immunization efforts. Beyond a doubt, immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements in history. Immunization can prevent a disease from happening, limit a disease’s impact on an infected patient, and protect the public health, especially those who cannot be immunized due to health concerns. However; for all of these benefits to be realized, the immunization has to be available to the patients who need it most.
State, county, and local health departments have been faced with incredible challenges ranging from reduced budgets, loss of resources, and increasing demands. Through all of these impacts, dedicated public health personnel have still ensured their population’s health by dedicating time and effort to immunization services.
Only a year ago, the country was faced with the reality of a pandemic vaccine-preventable disease, H1N1. The profound impacts of preparing for and deploying immunization services to large segments of the population highlighted the daily work of immunization programs throughout the country. On any given day, state, county, and local immunization program staff are ordering immunization, monitoring immunization supply, providing support to healthcare providers, conducting community outreach, and ensuring immunization is available to patients.
A key tool in helping with immunization support services is a statewide immunization registry. Around the country, many states are using STC’s immunization registry. Providers are able to use the immunization registry as a clinical decision-making tool while state and local health departments use the registry for immunization management and support.
During this National Immunization Awareness Month, STC says thank you to all public health professionals and healthcare providers working to ensure the life-saving benefits of immunization are made available to everyone in their communities. With your continued dedication and support, this historic public health achievement will be available for generations to come.
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