Catch Up to Get Ahead: The Role of Healthcare Providers in Getting Children Up-to-Date on Vaccines

Healthcare Providers in Getting Children Up-to-Date on Vaccines

By RADM Felicia Collins M.D., MPH, FAAP, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Director, Office of Minority Health and Dorothy Fink, M.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health and Director, Office on Women's Health

Vaccinations are more important than ever this year because of the disrupting impact that COVID-19 has had on the nation’s routinely recommended vaccination schedule. As we recognize National Immunization Awareness Month in August, protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) is vital to keeping children healthy, preventing VPD outbreaks, and reducing the burden of infectious diseases. Healthcare providers are key to this by emphasizing the importance of immunizations when communicating with your patients’ parents and caregivers, as well as by bringing your patients up-to-date on all their routinely recommended vaccinations. Together we can catch up to get ahead on immunizations.

Read the blog for a quick list of ways to help families catch-up on childhood vaccines.