<p><strong>HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH</strong></p>

<ol>
<li>
<p>Call your doctor</p>

<p>The only way to be absolutely certain about what vaccinations you&rsquo;ve received is to gather your medical records. Contact your doctor and request your immunization records to determine whether or not you are up to date.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Encourage friends to do the same</p>

<p>Just because you feel healthy doesn't mean you don't need to be vaccinated. Unlike most medicines, which treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them. When you check your immunization records, encourage friends to do the same, and you can all make sure you are up to date.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Know your family history</p>

<p>A family medical history can reveal the history of disease in your family and help a doctor identify patterns that might be relevant to your own health. This will allow the doctor to be best informed about recommending vaccines for immunization.</p>
</li>
</ol>

<p><strong>5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT VACCINES</strong></p>

<ol>
<li>
<p>Scientists got lucky</p>

<p>Though scientists didn&rsquo;t yet understand what the smallpox virus was, it was widely believed that cowpox could be used to immunize against it. British scientist Edward Jenner&rsquo;s research confirmed this and allowed him to develop the first smallpox vaccine in 1796 &mdash; an entire century before the virus was first officially discovered.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>One man developed over 40 vaccines</p>

<p>For Maurice Hilleman, that includes more than half of the 14 routinely recommended childhood immunizations in the U.S., including vaccines against measles, mumps, and meningococcal disease.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Ancient Asian civilizations inoculated people 1,000 years ago</p>

<p>India and China are believed to be the first civilizations to inoculate their children against smallpox using a process called variolation. The process requires a small incision into a person's arm and then rubbing infected material (ground scabs or pus) into the wound.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Meningitis has nearly been eliminated</p>

<p>Meningitis A is an infection that can cause severe brain damage and is often fatal. The introduction of the Meningitis A vaccine in Africa in 2010 has all but eliminated the disease.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We are on the brink of a breakthrough</p>

<p>Currently there has been a major push for clinical development of vaccines, and the first vaccine to protect children against malaria will be piloted in three African countries in 2018.</p>
</li>
</ol>

<p><strong>WHY NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT</strong></p>

<ol>
<li>
<p>Immunization protects our children</p>

<p>Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of many diseases, including amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Immunization is safe</p>

<p>Vaccination is safe and effective. All vaccines undergo long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and the federal government to make sure they are safe.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>We owe it to everyone</p>

<p>We all have a public health obligation to our communities to protect ourselves as well as others from potential health risks. By getting vaccinated, we eliminate diseases before they have a chance to spread.</p>
</li>
</ol>

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MCC Daily Tribune

National Immunization Awareness Month

When was the last time you checked to see if your immune system is up to date? This August, National Immunization Awareness Month raises awareness and encourages everyone to make sure they are current on the necessary vaccinations for potentially harmful diseases. Many diseases can be easily prevented by administering vaccines, and thus, protecting you from unseen viruses. Take the necessary precautions with a simple call to your doctor, and avoid potential harm while leading a healthy, happy life.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH

1. Call your doctor

   The only way to be absolutely certain about what vaccinations you’ve received is to gather your medical records. Contact your doctor and request your immunization records to determine whether or not you are up to date.

2. Encourage friends to do the same

   Just because you feel healthy doesn't mean you don't need to be vaccinated. Unlike most medicines, which treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them. When you check your immunization records, encourage friends to do the same, and you can all make sure you are up to date.

3. Know your family history

   A family medical history can reveal the history of disease in your family and help a doctor identify patterns that might be relevant to your own health. This will allow the doctor to be best informed about recommending vaccines for immunization.

5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT VACCINES

1. Scientists got lucky

   Though scientists didn’t yet understand what the smallpox virus was, it was widely believed that cowpox could be used to immunize against it. British scientist Edward Jenner’s research confirmed this and allowed him to develop the first smallpox vaccine in 1796 — an entire century before the virus was first officially discovered.

2. One man developed over 40 vaccines

   For Maurice Hilleman, that includes more than half of the 14 routinely recommended childhood immunizations in the U.S., including vaccines against measles, mumps, and meningococcal disease.

3. Ancient Asian civilizations inoculated people 1,000 years ago

   India and China are believed to be the first civilizations to inoculate their children against smallpox using a process called variolation. The process requires a small incision into a person's arm and then rubbing infected material (ground scabs or pus) into the wound.

4. Meningitis has nearly been eliminated

   Meningitis A is an infection that can cause severe brain damage and is often fatal. The introduction of the Meningitis A vaccine in Africa in 2010 has all but eliminated the disease.

5. We are on the brink of a breakthrough

   Currently there has been a major push for clinical development of vaccines, and the first vaccine to protect children against malaria will be piloted in three African countries in 2018.

WHY NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT

1. Immunization protects our children

   Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of many diseases, including amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.

2. Immunization is safe

   Vaccination is safe and effective. All vaccines undergo long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and the federal government to make sure they are safe.

3. We owe it to everyone

   We all have a public health obligation to our communities to protect ourselves as well as others from potential health risks. By getting vaccinated, we eliminate diseases before they have a chance to spread.

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
08/09/2022