August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Sponsored by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the National Health Council (NHC), and National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), this month is set aside to raise awareness of the importance of keeping up with your vaccinations throughout your lifetime.
Anyone with school-aged children knows that you must keep their vaccinations up to date for them to attend school. Until Covid and the introduction of its vaccines, many people were unaware of the health and wellness benefits associated with adults maintaining a vaccination schedule of their own. During NIAM, these organizations hope to remind parents to keep their children's vaccines up to date and to talk to their doctors about which vaccines might benefit them as well.
Common Children's Vaccines
There are many vaccines that infants and children need to receive to protect them from various illnesses and diseases. The vaccination schedule usually begins in the days immediately following the child's birth and continues until they are in their teen years. Some of these vaccines, as recommended by the CDC, include:
- Hepatitis B - 3 doses, given at birth, 1 to 3 months, and 6 to 18 months.
- Rotavirus - 2 doses, given at 2 months and 4 months.
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) - 5 doses, given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, and between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b - 4 doses, given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 18 months
- Pneumococcal Conjugate - 4 doses, given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months.
- Inactivated Poliovirus - 4 doses, given at 2 months, 4 months, between 6 and 18 months, and between the ages of 4 and 6.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) - 2 doses, given at 12 months and between the ages of 4 to 6 years.
Common Adult Vaccines
This is only a partial list. Many adult vaccinations are given based on overall health condition, age, and potential risk factors.
- Influenza - 1 dose given each year
- Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td) - A booster is given every 10 years; a booster is given at the beginning of each pregnancy.
- Varicella - 2 doses, not necessary for anyone who had the Chicken Pox
- Human Papillomavirus - 2 or 3 doses (depending on whether a dose was given in childhood) given between the ages of 27 and 45 years
Find a Cheaper Way with RxLess
All the above-listed vaccines and the many more you are likely to need throughout your life may seem daunting. If the cost of all these vaccines is what is worrying you, check out the RxLess discount card. It can help you save money on all your prescriptions and medications, including childhood and adult vaccines.
Meta Data: August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Learn more about what vaccines everyone needs and how you can save money on them.