August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month. This annual observance is used to highlight the importance and necessity of routine vaccination for people of all ages. National Immunization Awareness Month is also a time for us to reflect on the progress, development, and advancement of immunization science. When it comes to the public health sector, the profound impact that immunizations have had on our society is unmatched. Vaccines have successfully prevented countless illnesses, saved lives, and paved the way for healthier communities worldwide, all important facets to having a productive society and community.
Immunizations are powerful and stand as a cornerstone of preventive medicine. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines immunization as “a process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination.” Essentially, when you are vaccinated, a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen is introduced into the body, stimulating the immune system to produce an immune response without causing the actual disease.
HealthCare Access Maryland’s (HCAM) Connector program provides health insurance enrollment and outreach services on behalf of the Maryland Health Connection in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Carrol County, and Frederick County. Our team members are embedded throughout the community, meeting individuals where they are, to ensure they are enrolled in health insurance. One of our partner sites, New Song Community Learning Center (NSCLC), has a robust community of families and children living, working, and learning in West Baltimore.
A few months ago, Doug Fireside, the principal at New Song Academy, contacted our team to ask for help with getting over twenty students who were not up-to-date on their vaccinations required to attend school. As a charter school, NSCLC was facing the possibility of losing its funding for each student due to their vaccinations not being up to date.
Our team took immediate action. HCAM’s Connector Outreach Manager, Richard Amador, worked with our long-time partners at the Baltimore City Health Department to organize an on-site vaccination clinic at NSCLC. The clinic ensured that every student in need was able to access needed vaccinations, and brought awareness in the community about the importance of immunization.
HCAM is committed to serving our community members in Baltimore City, our community partners, and to our philosophy of meeting people where they are. The greatest reason that students had not previously received updated immunizations was lack of transportation from Sandtown-Winchester to the nearest vaccination clinic in Mt. Vernon. Looking toward the future, our team plans to continue collaborating with the Baltimore City Health Department to remove these structural barriers that not only affect the NSCLC community, but other communities throughout the city.
Need health insurance or have a question about immunizations and health insurance coverage? Call us at 410-500-4710 to speak with a Certified Navigator.
To learn more about what immunizations you or your children should receive, take these quick quizzes on the CDC’s website, which can give you a list of vaccines based on your answers.
