5 Things Everyone Should Know for National Immunization Awareness Month

Observed annually in August, National Immunization Awareness Month highlights the importance of lifelong vaccination to prevent diseases, a practice that has averted millions of deaths, proven to be a cost-effective public health strategy, and offers crucial protection even to individuals who are immunocompromised. | Image Credit: design.designer - stock.adobe.com

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), a time to highlight the importance of staying up-to-date on vaccinations for people of all ages.1 During NIAM, everyone is encouraged to speak with a health care professional to ensure they and their families are protected against serious diseases.

1. Protection and Public Health Triumphs

Vaccination programs over the past 50 years (June 1974 to May 2024) have prevented an estimated 154 million deaths from 14 different diseases, according to a study published in The Lancet.2 A vast majority of these lives saved (146 million) were children under the age of 5 years. Researchers estimated vaccination was directly linked to 40% of the declined infant mortality rate. Vaccinations have dramatically improved survival rates across generations. Researchers estimate that a 10-year-old today is 44% more likely to survive to their next birthday, a 25-year-old is 35% more likely, and a 50-year-old is 16% more likely than if vaccines had not been available since 1974.

The eradication of smallpox and elimination of polio along with measles have long-lasting global public health effects.3 Vaccines help lessen the impact of diseases that are expected to spread more easily because of climate change, based on research published in Science Translational Medicine. By minimizing transition, vaccines protect microbial diversity as they limit antibiotic use while promoting sustainable development.

Herd immunity is crucial when looking to contain an outbreak, but as vaccination rates decrease, the spread of once-eliminated diseases continues to grow.4 The first vaccine for measles was marketed in 1963, and the CDC declared measles was eliminated in 2000. By May 2025, a total of 1024 confirmed measles cases were reported across 31 jurisdictions. A total of 14 outbreaks have occurred, of which 96% were reported among patients who were unvaccinated or had no known vaccination status.

2. Rigorous Testing and Carefully Selected Ingredients

Vaccine development is the result of a long and groundbreaking history, with roots stretching back to the 15th century.5 This history was permanently changed in 1796 when English physician Edward Jenner performed the first documented vaccination, inoculating an 8-year-old with a cowpox sore to provide immunity against smallpox. This pioneering act paved the way for centuries of scientific advancement.

Today, vaccines are subject to rigorous and extensive development programs mandated by the FDA.6 This includes comprehensive laboratory testing, as well as both animal and human clinical trials to prove their safety and effectiveness. To enhance the immune response, some vaccines contain adjuvants like aluminum salts or AS03, which helps stabilize the formula.

They also contain ingredients such as antibiotics to prevent contamination, formaldehyde to inactivate viruses, and stabilizers like sugars to protect the vaccine from environmental damage. Preservatives are also added to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, ensuring the vaccine's integrity.

3. A Cost-Effective Shield Against Disease and Health Care Burdens

Vaccines are a powerful, cost-effective defense against widespread disease and a significant driver of long-term health care savings, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.7 Researchers found that the response to just 11 measles outbreaks incurred a median total cost of over $152,000, underscoring the immense financial burden of preventable diseases.

The economic impact of vaccination is staggering. The varicella vaccine, for example, has generated an estimated $15.5 billion in direct savings by dramatically reducing hospitalizations and outpatient visits.8 This is particularly notable given that shingles, a complication of the same virus, costs the health care system $2.4 billion annually. The shingles vaccine remains the most effective tool for preventing this costly and debilitating disease.

Vaccination's broader societal impact is even more profound. Vaccines have slashed national health care spending by over 60% compared with a no-vaccine scenario, reducing costs to just $13 billion and preventing 3.4 million hospital days and nearly 154,000 deaths.9 The COVID-19 vaccine alone demonstrated this value, offering a per-person budget impact of only $40, a small investment for a massive public health return.

4. Minimal Risks vs Lasting Benefits

Vaccine side effects are typically minor and brief, a small trade-off for a life-saving medical intervention.10 The most common reactions are limited to swelling, fatigue, or a mild fever that subsides within a few days.11 While the CDC acknowledges an extremely rare risk of severe allergic reactions or other serious injuries, these are far outweighed by the lasting protection vaccines provide.

Unlike many infections that can cause permanent damage, the potential discomfort from a vaccine is short-lived.10 The level of protection and number of doses required can vary based on the type of vaccine, but the goal remains the same: to deliver durable immunity that often lasts for years. Some vaccines are also regularly updated to combat viruses that mutate, requiring new doses to maintain strong, ongoing protection.

5. Importance for the Immunocompromised

Immunocompromised individuals are often at a higher risk of severe illness, making vaccines a critical defense, not a risk to be avoided.12 While some believe vaccines are off-limits for this population, recommended vaccinations are in fact vital for protecting them from infections that their weakened immune systems, often caused by autoimmune diseases or certain medications, can't fight off alone.

However, proper timing is essential to ensure the vaccine is effective and to avoid risks. For instance, "live" vaccines may pose a greater danger and should be avoided, and the vaccine schedule may need to be carefully planned around other medical treatments, such as organ transplants or infusions.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, is a long-standing vaccine skeptic, rooted in discredited research.13 The vaccine-autism connection, which he continues to promote, was originally based on 2 flawed and now-retracted studies by Andrew Wakefield.14 Wakefield's claims, which lacked proper controls and were later found to be falsified, have since been scientifically disproven.

Despite this, experts are concerned that Kennedy's prominent role and outspoken skepticism could erode public confidence in vaccines, potentially leading to a decline in vaccination rates and an increase in preventable diseases.13 Although he advocates for public transparency and maintains that vaccination will remain an option, his influence as HHS secretary could introduce challenges to established federal regulatory practices.

While skepticism and misinformation continue to circulate, the scientific consensus is clear: getting vaccinated is a responsible and powerful choice that protects not only individuals but also the wider community.

References

1. August is National Immunization Awareness Month. US Customs and Border Protection. 2024. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.cbp.gov/employee-resources/health-wellness/august-national-immunization-awareness-month
2. Shattock AJ, Johnson HC, Sim SY, et al. Contribution of vaccination to improved survival and health: modelling 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization. The Lancet. published online May 2, 2024. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00850-X
3. Pecetta S, Nandi A, Weller C, et al. Vaccines for a sustainable planet. Sci Transl Med. 2023;15(685). doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.adf1093
4. Gallagher A. Measles outbreak reached over 800 confirmed cases in the US. Drug Topics®. June 7, 2025. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/measles-outbreak-reaches-over-800-confirmed-cases-in-the-us
5. A brief history of vaccination. World Health Organization. 2025. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/a-brief-history-of-vaccination
6. Common ingredients in FDA-approved vaccines. FDA. January 12, 2024. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/common-ingredients-fda-approved-vaccines
7. Pike J, Leidner AJ, Gastañaduy PA. A review of measles outbreak cost estimates from the US in the post-elimination era (2004-2017): estimates by perspective and cost type. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(6). doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa070
8. Baker M. Vaccine protection and productivity: the economic value of vaccines. AAF. June 5, 2025. Accessed July 31, 2025. https://www.americanactionforum.org/research/vaccine-protection-and-productivity-the-economic-value-of-vaccines/
9. Padula WV, Malaviya S, Reid NM, et al. Economic value of vaccines to address the COVID-19 pandemic: a U.S. cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis. J Med Econ. 2021;24(1):1060-1069. doi:10.1080/13696998.2021.1965732
10. Explaining how vaccines work. Vaccines & Immunizations. August 10, 2024. Accessed July 31, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/basics/explaining-how-vaccines-work.html
11. Possible side effects from vaccines. Vaccines & Immunizations. July 31, 2024. Accessed July 31, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/basics/possible-side-effects.html
12. If your immune system is compromised, can you get vaccinated? Cleveland Clinic. April 3, 2024. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-immunocompromised-get-vaccines
13. Grossi G. 5 health policy stances of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. AJMC®. November 15, 2024. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/5-health-policy-stances-of-robert-f-kennedy-jr
14. Munz K. 5 things every parent should know about childhood vaccines. AJMC. March 27, 2025. Accessed August 1, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/5-things-every-parent-should-know-about-childhood-vaccines