August is designated National Immunization Awareness Month to educate the public about the important role that immunization plays in our lives. Immunization is one of many tools to help people attain and maintain good health. Cambridge dictionary defines immunization as the process of protecting a person/animal from an infectious disease by putting a substance into the body that makes it produce antibodies, which are proteins in the blood that fight disease. The substance placed in the body is a vaccine. A vaccine is a suspension of weakened, killed or fragmented microorganisms or toxins or other biological preparation, such as those consisting of antibodies, lymphocytes, or mRNA, that’s administered primarily to prevent disease (Brunson, 2025). Trusted for America’s Health (TFAH) describes immunizations as a process that serves to protect against “vaccine-preventable” diseases (e.g., chickenpox, measles, whooping cough, flu, shingles, tetanus, etc.) The use of immunizations is considered as one of the ten great public health achievements. It has prevented substantial illness and death from diseases that can be prevented by using vaccines. According to TFAH, vaccines have nearly eradicated or eradicated some life-threatening diseases (e.g., smallpox, polio).
Until recently, measles was close to being on the list of nearly eradicated diseases. As of July 29, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,333 confirmed measles cases across 40 states. In 2025, there have been 29 outbreaks with 87% of the confirmed cases associated with the outbreaks. This marks an increase from the 16 outbreaks reported in 2024. Many of the cases have occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 19. Of the confirmed cases, 92% were unvaccinated. Keeping vaccinations current plays a key role in averting outbreaks since it minimizes the risk of infection from “vaccine-preventable” diseases. There are recommended vaccination schedules for infants, children, teens, and adults that can help ensure that people are protected by keep their immunizations current.
In recent years, there have been growing inquiries about vaccine safety. Vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. They undergo numerous, rigorous testing and evaluations prior to required approval by relevant regulatory agencies. Clinical trials are utilized to test the quality, safety, and efficacy (how well it works under controlled conditions) of vaccines prior to approval (World Health Organization, 2025). After approval, vaccines are required to continue to undergo observations to ensure continual safety and effectiveness and to identify and monitor any potential reactions from the vaccine.
Much of the inquiry around the safety of vaccines has centered around vaccine effects in children and whether they cause children to develop autism. In a report released in November 2024, the CDC stated, “Some people have had concerns that Autism Spectrum Disorder might be linked to the vaccines children receive, but studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism. The National Academy of Medicine, formerly known as Institute of Medicine (IOM) reviewed the safety of 8 vaccines to children and adults and found that with rare exceptions, these vaccines are very safe.” Additional studies published in 2013 also added to the body of research that shows that vaccines do not cause autism. They can be found here along with additional resources that cite evidence to this fact.
Although many can receive vaccinations if they want them, there are many who are unable to access vaccinations. For many, vaccines remain inaccessible due to financial, educational, and geographical factors. Vaccines can be costly without health insurance despite the fact they are relatively inexpensive to make compared to other drugs. Although there are programs to cover vaccines, not everyone is eligible for them nor does everyone who may be eligible for them know about them. Vaccines for Children (VFC) is one such program. It is a national program that provides free vaccines for children who do not have insurance through federal funding provided to public and private healthcare providers enrolled in the program. Many states provide vaccinations for no charge at public health departments, but this is only viable for those who live nearby or can travel to them. Additionally, it is equally important that people are educated about vaccinations. Many do not receive them because they do not know how beneficial they can be to their health and to their communities. This was one of the reasons the measles epidemic occurred in the U.S from 1989-1991. It was discovered that even families with a regular doctor were going unvaccinated. This epidemic spurred the creation of the VFC Program. Unfortunately, with cuts to federal funding and changing priorities at the Department of Health and Human Services, this program could be at risk in many states.
The most important vaccines identified by the CDC for children are those that protect against the following diseases:
- Chickenpox
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Measles, mumps, rubella
- Polio
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough)
These are included in the vaccination schedule recommended by the CDC.
Vaccinations have significantly reduced the amount of illness and death due to infectious diseases over the years especially in infants and children. It is imperative to continue to protect individuals and communities by staying up to date with vaccinations. To stay informed check out the resources provided below.
Resources:
- Autism Science Foundation
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
- The American Association of Immunologists
- Trust for America’s Health
References
American Association of Immunologists. (n.d.). National immunization awareness month. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 from https://www.aai.org/About/National-Immunization-Awareness-Month
Brunson, E. K. (2025). Vaccine. The editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/vaccine
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025 July 30). Measles Cases and Outbreaks. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 2025 from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025 June 20). Vaccines & immunizations. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-schedules/child-easyread.html
Fitzpatrick, Alex. (2025 April 4). States are losing billions in federal childhood vaccine funding. Axios. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 2025 from https://www.axios.com/2025/04/04/childhood-vaccine-funding-hhs
Michaud, Josh. (2025 July 28). Measles elimination status: what it is and how the U.S. could lose it. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 from https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/measles-elimination-status-what-it-is-and-how-the-u-s-could-lose-it/
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. (2024). Boosting immunization awareness. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 from https://www.nfid.org/boosting-immunization-awareness/
Trust for America’s Health. (2025). August is national immunization awareness month. Retrieved on 2025 July 30 from https://www.tfah.org/story/national-immunization-awareness-month/
World Health Organization. (10 March 2025). Vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and protection. Retrieved on 2025 August 5 from https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/vaccine-efficacy-effectiveness-and-protection
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