National Immunization Awareness Month is for bringing awareness about vaccinations to prevent serious and sometimes deadly diseases.

With summer coming to an end and flu season approaching, August is a great time to talk about vaccinations. So let’s discuss who needs them and how your funeral home can help spread the word to your community.

This article is meant to be informational, not persuasive. Only you and your doctor should make decisions about your and your children’s personal health.

Who Needs Vaccinations?

According to vaccines.gov, people of all ages need vaccinations, not just young children. However, there are different types of vaccines depending on your age, health, and other factors, such as if you’re traveling out of the United States.

The age and health groups are:

1. Infants, children, and teens (birth to age 18)
2. College students and young adults (age 19 to 24)
3. Adults (age 19 and older)
4. Seniors (age 65 and older)
5. Pregnant women
6. People with health conditions
7. People traveling out of the U.S.

To learn more, check out this article to see the vaccinations each of these groups may need.

Also, Healthfinder.gov recommends getting a yearly influenza vaccination. According to the National Vital Statistics Report, there were 4,605 deaths from influenza in the U.S. during 2014. However, during 2016, according to the 2016 National Health Interview Survey, less than 50% of adults age 64 and younger got the vaccination. The survey found that 67.2% of adults age 65 or older got it. But only 45.2% of adults age 50 to 64 got it, along with only 31.8% of adults age 18 to 49.

You should talk to your healthcare provider about what vaccinations you may need. It’s also important to know that some schools and child care centers require them for children, so make sure you’re aware if relevant.

How Can Your Funeral Home Help Spread the Word?

To help prevent diseases, your funeral home can help educate your community about vaccinations.

Here are some ways your funeral home can help spread the word about not spreading disease:

• Work with your local clinics to create informational brochures.
• Partner with your local clinics to provide flu vaccinations. Make sure you follow these rules from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Work with doctors and nurses to host an educational event.
• Spread the word about the awareness month on your social media pages.