August is National Immunization Awareness month – an annual observance highlighting the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients against vaccine-preventable diseases. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published toolkits with messaging to reach healthcare professionals, parents and patients. The toolkits include a video series collection, sample newsletter content and digital graphics for social media platforms and websites.

Messaging focused on vaccines and pregnancy includes the top seven things women need to know. In addition, Pertussis and flu toolkits for women and healthcare professionals are also available.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse Midwives and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses recently released, Immunization for Pregnant Women: A Call to Action. This joint statement affirms the importance of recommending and advocating that pregnant women receive all recommended vaccines at the appropriate time during each pregnancy.