SAN JOSE, CA – On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, the Santa Clara County Board of Education (SCCBOE) unanimously passed a resolution recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NAIM). The resolution recognizes the importance of getting recommended vaccines for school-aged children and highlights that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages parents and caregivers to use this time to ensure all immunizations, physicals, and dental health checkups are up-to-date.
As children head back to school this fall, the CDC emphasizes on-time routine childhood vaccinations to protect against serious diseases such as whooping cough, cancers caused by HPV, pneumonia, and the coronavirus. Vaccination information, including the appropriate immunizations by age level, can be found on the (CDC) website.
“Following the CDC’s guidance on recommended vaccines can help ensure the wellness of school-aged children, teachers, and our community. This resolution acknowledges the importance of continuing to take care of your health and medical conditions especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan.
With the global health pandemic still prevalent, the SCCOE remains committed to its partnerships to provide both free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for those who meet the age requirement. Vaccines are currently available for individuals 12 and older. Drop-in sites are available in San Jose, Gilroy Santa Clara and Mountain View. The County of Santa Clara has also launched a free In-Home Vaccination Program for individuals who are unable to leave their place of residence.
COVID-19 vaccinations continue to play a key role in schools being able to provide safe, in-person instruction. For more information regarding COVID-19 immunizations and vaccination site locations, please visit www.sccfreevax.org.
“By supporting this resolution, the County Superintendent of Schools and the SCCBOE advocate for the physical and mental well-being of all students, families, and staff,” said Santa Clara County Board of Education President, Claudia Rossi. “As acknowledged by the CDC, the academic success of America’s youth is strongly linked with their health, therefore we practice this annual observance to bring awareness to recommended vaccines and the value they serve to protect our community from serious disease.”
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.
For more information about the Santa Clara County Office of Education, please visit www.sccoe.org and follow us @SCCOE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.