August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This month, the Health Department joins the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health officials to celebrate the benefits of vaccines and highlight their importance for people of all ages.
NIAM highlights the various groups of people who benefit of vaccines:
- school-aged children, who need back-to-school vaccines;
- pregnant women, who can protect themselves and pass protection on to their babies;
- babies and young children, because a healthy start begins with on-time vaccination;
- preteens and teens, who can ensure a healthy future with vaccines; and
- adults, because vaccines are not just for kids.
During NIAM and throughout the year, the Health Department’s Immunization Action Plan (IAP) Program works with families, health care providers, and the community to ensure that area children and adults receive age-appropriate vaccines. This year, the IAP Program continues to run its highly recognized Win/Win/Win campaign to promote the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) to young people in the Norwalk area.
As part of the campaign, IAP staff is encouraging health care providers to discuss and administer this anti-cancer vaccine to their pre-teen and teenage patients in Norwalk, Westport, or Wilton. Patients who talk to their doctor about the HPV vaccine and/or receive the vaccine at their pediatrician’s office can enter a drawing to win an iPad, and the offices that enter the most postcards win a free lunch for their staff. The campaign is a Win/Win/Win: Win immunity for children and the community, win an iPad, and win lunch for health staff. The winner of the iPad will be drawn September 26, 2018.
About the Norwalk Department of Health: Under the direction of the mayor, and with valuable guidance from its six-member Board of Health, the Norwalk Health Department provides a variety of services and programs to fulfill its mission: to prevent and control the spread of disease, promote a healthy environment, and protect the quality of life within its changing community. The Health Department achieved accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) in June 2014, demonstrating that it meets or exceeds national public health standards and commits to continuously improve the quality of the services it delivers. More information is available at norwalkhealth.com.