Recognize National Immunization Awareness Month and National Health Center Week in August

Recognize National Immunization Awareness Month and  National Health Center Week in August This month the CMS Office of Minority Health (OMH) commemorates National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) and National Health Center Week (August 13-19). Join us in raising awareness about the importance of immunization among people of all ages, and the role health centers play in providing quality care in communities across the nation.  Immunizations can help protect against serious and sometimes deadly diseases. During NIAM, we encourage health care professionals, community leaders, and organizations to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. CMS OMH has resources you can use to help start the conversation, which you can find more at CMS OMH’s dedicated page for the observances: ·         Share From Coverage to Care resources to help patients understand their health coverage and connect to primary care and preventive services.   ·         Check out the various resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Immunization Awareness Month site that you can use to promote the importance of vaccination, especially to adults with chronic health conditions. ·         Health care professionals can also visit Connected Care: The Chronic Care Management Resource to learn more about the benefits of chronic care management (CCM) and take steps to offer CCM services to eligible patients. ·         Visit CDC.gov to get immunization schedules and other downloadable resources for your community.  In honor of National Health Center Week, we encourage individuals and organizations to show their support for the role of health centers in helping to reduce health disparities in medically underserved communities. Learn about the successes and value of Health Resources & Services Administration’s Health Center Program.    For more resources and information, visit CMS OMH’s Health Observances.