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The St. Louis County Department of Public Health is strongly urging all residents to stay current with all recommended vaccinations as part of the observation of National Immunization Awareness Month this August.

“While the focus this time of year is often on vaccinating children before they return to school, we want to encourage adults to stay current as well,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. “This year has seen outbreaks of both measles and mumps around the nation – two diseases that had been considered eradicated in the United States, but which are now back, in part, because of people not staying current with their vaccinations.”

Vaccination schedules for people of all ages are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/.

Persons who are not sure which vaccinations they have received should check with their healthcare provider to determine their immunization status. In addition, anyone without a healthcare provider can contact the St, Louis County Department of Public Health.

No measles cases have occurred in St. Louis County since 1994, but the disease remains a highly contagious viral illness that can cause severe complications in young children and some adults.

The last confirmed case of mumps in the county was in 2011. Adults are most likely to suffer complications from this contagious viral illness.

The department advises that travelers receive all recommended travel vaccinations several weeks before they depart to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases (recommendations vary with destination).

More information about vaccinations and National Immunization Awareness Month is available at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam.html.

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