New Jersey Encourages Residents to Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is encouraging residents to stay current on their vaccinations. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which highlights the importance of vaccines and their impact on disease and illness prevention.

The NJDOH especially emphasizes the importance of staying up to date on childhood vaccinations, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV. According to the most recent CDC data, only 73.9% of children under 36 months in New Jersey have received the recommended seven vaccines. This is significantly lower than the national rate of 68.4%. The lack of vaccination among children in New Jersey is a concern for the state’s public health officials, as it can spread these potentially serious diseases.

In addition to childhood vaccinations, the NJDOH is also emphasizing the importance of annual flu vaccines for everyone ages six months and older. The flu can be a severe respiratory illness that can result in hospitalization or death. Not vaccinating can lead to the spread of the flu and serious complications. Other vaccines that may be recommended based on age, health condition, job, or lifestyle include the whooping cough, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines. The consequences of not getting vaccinated can be severe, so it’s important to stay up to date.

The NJDOH understands that staying up to date on vaccinations can be daunting, but it is essential to remember that immunizations are a crucial step in preventing serious illness and death. The health department is here to help and encourages all residents to take advantage of its many vaccine opportunities. Could you ensure that you and your families are current on recommended vaccines?