Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation delegating August as Adolescent Immunization Awareness Month.
The proclamation states the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend “safe and effective” immunizations for kids through 18 years old against “several different vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, HPV and meningitis.”
The proclamation also states “ensuring that Iowa’s youth are protected from all vaccine-preventable diseases is more important than ever before.”
It notes that, since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, most routine vaccination rates in kids have “continued to remain below pre-pandemic levels.”
“Coupled with the simultaneous decrease in catch-up vaccinations, is placing Iowa youth at higher risk of illness or poor health outcomes in the future,” it states.
“Observing Adolescent Immunization Awareness Month is intended to help boost immunization coverage, increase public knowledge, acceptance and use of vaccines to protect preteens and teens against serious life-threatening diseases.”
