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National Immunization Awareness Month: Protecting Our Community, One Vaccine at a Time

August is National Immunization Awareness Month — a reminder that staying up‑to‑date on vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves, our families, and our community. At Libélula Primary Care, we see immunization as an act of care, connection, and community responsibility. Vaccines don’t just prevent illness; they help us protect the people we love, especially children, elders, and those with chronic conditions.

family

Why Vaccines Matter

Vaccines reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and long‑term complications. They also help keep schools, workplaces, and community spaces safer. For families preparing for back‑to‑school season, August is the perfect time to review vaccine records and schedule any needed updates.

Recommended Vaccines by Age Group

  • Children & Teens: DTaP, MMR, Varicella, Polio, HPV, Meningococcal

  • Adults: Tdap booster, shingles, pneumococcal, influenza

  • Pregnancy: Tdap, flu, and other vaccines depending on risk

  • Travelers: Hepatitis A/B, typhoid, and region‑specific vaccines

If you’re unsure what you or your child needs, we can review your records and create a personalized vaccine plan.

Addressing Barriers with Compassion

We know that access, transportation, language, and past experiences can make preventive care difficult. That’s why Libélula offers bilingual support, flexible scheduling, and culturally sensitive education. Your questions are always welcome — and your comfort matters.

National Immunization Awareness Month: How to Get Started

  • Schedule a vaccine review

  • Bring your child’s school immunization record

  • Ask about adult boosters

  • Request bilingual education materials

  • Connect with us for travel‑related vaccines

Why Staying on Schedule With the MMR Vaccine Matters During an Outbreak

During a measles outbreak, following the recommended MMR vaccine schedule is one of the strongest defenses we have to stop rapid transmission. Measles spreads so efficiently that nearly every unvaccinated person exposed becomes infected, making high, on‑time vaccination coverage essential. Completing the two‑dose series provides up to 97% protection, dramatically reducing the number of susceptible individuals who can keep an outbreak going. Public health teams may also accelerate doses for partially vaccinated children or recommend early vaccination for infants in affected areas. Staying on schedule protects your child, your household, and the broader community—especially those who cannot be vaccinated.

Why School Immunization Documentation Protects Your Child and Their Classmates

Providing your child’s school with accurate, up‑to‑date vaccination documentation is a key part of keeping classrooms safe during a measles outbreak. Schools rely on verified records to quickly identify who is protected, who may need urgent follow‑up, and how to prevent further spread. Clear documentation helps avoid unnecessary exclusions, supports public health containment, and safeguards vulnerable classmates such as infants, immunocompromised students, and pregnant educators. At Libélula Primary Care, we can coordinate and supply all required immunization records for our patients, ensuring your child’s school receives compliant, timely documentation that strengthens community protection.

References

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  2. MacDonald NE; SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy: definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine. 2015;33(34):4161‑4164. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.04.036

  3. Andre FE, Booy R, Bock HL, et al. Vaccination greatly reduces disease, disability, death and inequity worldwide. Bull World Health Organ. 2008;86(2):140‑146. doi:10.2471/BLT.07.040089

  4. Robinson CL, Romero JR, Kempe A, Pellegrini C. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger — United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(5):1‑4.

  5. Dooling KL, Guo A, Patel M, et al. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for use of herpes zoster vaccines. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(3):103‑108.

  6. Kahn KE, Black CL, Ding H, et al. Influenza vaccination coverage — United States, 2023–24 influenza season. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(22):1‑10.

  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel. Oxford University Press; 2024.

  8. Opel DJ, Heritage J, Taylor JA, et al. The architecture of provider‑parent vaccine discussions at health supervision visits. Pediatrics. 2013;132(6):1037‑1046. doi:10.1542/peds.2013‑2037

  9. Williams DR, Cooper LA. Reducing racial inequities in health: using what we already know to take action. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(4):606. doi:10.3390/ijerph16040606

  10. Betancourt JR, Green AR, Carrillo JE. Cultural competence in health care: emerging frameworks and practical approaches. Commonwealth Fund. 2002.

  11. Li S, Kuter BJ, Schmidt E, et al. Effectiveness of M‑M‑R® II in outbreaks: a systematic literature review of real‑world observational studies. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2020;7(Suppl 1):S704‑S705. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.1572

  12. Perry M, Gravenor MB, Cottrell S, Moore C, Griffiths LJ. Estimates of vaccine effectiveness against measles and mumps: 14 years follow‑up of a large cohort in Wales, UK. Int J Epidemiol. 2026;55(3):dyag083. doi:10.1093/ije/dyag083

  13. Vittrup DM, Jensen A, Sørensen JK, et al. Immunogenicity and reactogenicity following MMR vaccination in 5–7‑month‑old infants: a double‑blind placebo‑controlled randomized clinical trial in 6540 Danish infants. eClinicalMedicine. 2024;68:102421. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102421

  14. Lutz CS, Nguyen HQ, McClure DL, et al. Patterns of decline in measles, mumps, and rubella neutralizing antibodies and protection levels through 10 years after a second and third dose of MMR vaccine. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025;12(4):ofaf188. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaf188

  15. Bénet T, Fougère E, Gounon M, et al. Investigation of a measles outbreak in a highly vaccinated middle school, France, 2023. Euro Surveill. 2025;30(46):2500130. doi:10.2807/1560‑7917.ES.2025.30.46.2500130

  16. Clemmons NS, Wallace GS, Patel M, Gastañaduy PA. Incidence of measles in the United States, 2001–2015. JAMA. 2017;318(13):1279‑1281. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.10676

  17. Patel M, Lee AD, Clemmons NS, et al. National update on measles cases and outbreaks — United States, January 1–October 1, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(40):893‑896.

  18. Moss WJ. Measles. Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2490‑2502. doi:10.1016/S0140‑6736(17)31463‑0

  19. Patel MK. Measles outbreaks in the United States: public health impact and response strategies. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(7):e215‑e220. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa271

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