August 2022
Share Facts About Immunizations With Your Patients in August
During August, our Wellness Can't Wait campaign is spotlighting National Immunization Awareness Month. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, immunizations are one of the greatest public health achievements, preventing tens of thousands of deaths and millions of cases of disease, while avoiding billions of dollars in costs. Immunizations are a safe, effective way to protect children and adults from disease, including some cancers, and avoid hospitalization, disability and death.1
To support National Immunization Awareness Month, you can let your patients know:
- Immunization currently prevents between 2-3 million deaths every year.2
- Scientific studies and reviews continue to show no relationship between vaccines and autism.
- Most diseases prevented by immunizations are no longer common in the U.S. In fact, without immunizations, just a few cases could quickly turn into tens or hundreds of thousands.3
Resources to Boost Awareness
You may want to share this video from our vice president and chief medical officer, Derek Robinson, talking to parents about scheduling their child’s next well visit and staying up to date on childhood immunizations through their teenage years.
Also see Dr. Robinson’s CMO Perspective post from July 1, 2022 – Pediatric Vaccines: A Call to Action to Help Protect Illinois Children and Teens. In this post, Dr. Robinson shares information and resources from the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) to alert pediatricians and other providers about what they can do to help.
Free Immunizations and Vaccine Clinics in the Community
Through our Wellness Can't Wait campaign, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is working with the provider community and local organizations to connect those in need with access to preventive care information and resources.
Our Care Van® program works with community, local and national partners to administer more than 10,000 immunizations at no cost every year across Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, Chicago, Edgar County, Madison County, Peoria and East St. Louis. To learn more about the program and pass the information on to your patients, visit the Care Van website.
We’re also hosting a series of free family vaccination clinics at our Blue Door Neighborhood CenterSM (BDNCSM) locations. These clinics are organized by the Chicago Department of Public Health and offer COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months and older. Your patients can call 773-253-0900 or check the calendars at BDNC at Morgan Park, BDNC at Pullman and BDNC at South Lawndale for details.
1American Academy of Pediatrics, Immunizations, July 2021, https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/immunizations/
2World Health Organization, 10 facts on immunization, March 2018, https://www.who.int/mongolia/health-topics/vaccines/10-facts-on-immunization
3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Common Questions About Vaccines, May 2019. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/parent-questions.html
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician or other health care provider. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the appropriate course of treatment. References to third party sources or organizations are not a representation, warranty or endorsement of such organizations. Any questions regarding those organizations should be addressed to them directly. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.