Workplace Wellness: August is National Immunization Awareness Month

      National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance dedicated to the importance of vaccinations for all ages. For employers, this is a great time to raise awareness about which vaccines adults need, reasons to vaccinate, and how to find vaccination sites with ease.

      Since the COVID vaccine rollout, there has been much interest in vaccines, how they work, why we need them, etc. National Immunization Awareness Month is a great opportunity to dispel COVID vaccine myths and update workers on other shots they may need beyond the COVID shot.
 
Why Vaccines are Important…
      The medical world considers vaccines as one of the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases. While childhood vaccines are the most commonly thought of, adults actually need vaccines, too, because vaccinations protect individuals, their families, and their communities.
 
      Reasons to vaccinate include:

• Vaccines can offer peace of mind - Shots can provide protection from serious diseases and make you worry less about catching one. Some shots provide 3-in-1 protection, too, like the MMR — which stands for measles, mumps, and rubella. While kids are most often required to have the MMR shot for school, this vaccine in particular may be required for overseas travel or frontline healthcare workers.
  
• Vaccines lower your chance of spreading disease - If enough people are vaccinated against a particular disease, it can reduce or even eliminate some diseases as has been talked about recently with the COVID vaccine. This has been the case for the polio vaccine. Diseases like diphtheria and measles have been reduced by up to 99.9% since the introduction of those vaccines.
• Vaccines protect your body - Vaccines provide your body immunity by creating antibodies that protect you from diseases. Medical professionals have found it’s safer for the immune system to create this antibody through vaccination versus catching it and treating it.

 
Which Vaccines Do Adults Need?
      Even if you received vaccines as a child, you’ll still need to update them periodically throughout your life. Immunity from childhood vaccines is known to wear off over time. Plus, as an adult, you may be at risk for different diseases, especially if you travel frequently overseas.
      All adults need the following vaccines:

• Annual influenza (flu)
  
• Td or Tdap - This acronym stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Diphtheria and pertussis infect from person to person, while tetanus infects the body through an open wound or cut. 

 
      Always discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider prior to receiving a vaccination. This is important if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to a vaccine or if you have certain health conditions like Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

SOURCE: https://info.totalwellnesshealth.com/blog/national-immunization-awareness-month
 
    When employees feel good, they tend to perform better. That’s why most Chamber BlueOptions plans come with employee discounts on health products and services, as well as an online health and fitness program. Just contact your Anthem-appointed insurance producer for more information or visit the Chamber’s BlueOptions web page to find a producer. For more information on the Chamber BlueOptions health plan, please contact Mark Ellis by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 107, or by emailing mellis@mainechamber.org.