Unity Consortium Marks Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW) with activities to help Parents and Adolescents get up to date on Recommended Vaccines
March 28 2024 - 8:05AM
UNITY® Consortium, a non-profit organization focused on
preventive health and immunization for adolescents and young
adults, is urging parents and young people to Stay on TASK during
Adolescent Immunization Action Week (AIAW), April 1-5, 2024. AIAW
is a national movement aimed at parents, adolescents and healthcare
providers to ensure adolescents are up to date on well visits and
recommended vaccines. Across the nation, organizations interested
in the health of adolescents are participating in AIAW to help
protect adolescents from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Vaccination is critical to preventive health. UNITY survey
research shows that while parents prioritize many day-to-day
healthy behaviors for their teens, preventive health actions, such
as annual well-visits with a healthcare provider and getting needed
vaccines, are relatively less prioritized by parents and teens
alike.
One reason may be that an increase in vaccine misinformation has
led to vaccine hesitancy. UNITY’s research found that
three-quarters of parents and teens believe there is a lot of
misinformation about vaccines. Parents and teens recognize vaccine
misinformation is a reality, but many feel that factual information
isn’t easy to find or understand. Social media is the least trusted
source of information, but the wide range of information
communicated on social media raises concerns about vaccine safety
and effectiveness. During AIAW, Unity is making tools and
information available to combat vaccine misinformation.
To address these challenges, Unity wants parents to help
adolescents and young adults stay healthy by Staying on TASK with
vaccines. The letters in TASK are reminders of steps parents,
caregivers and young people can take to get up to date on
vaccines:
- Trust credible resources – Look at multiple trustworthy
sources. Clinical studies show vaccines are safe and
effective.
- Ask your healthcare provider – It’s normal to have questions
about vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider and include your
adolescent in the conversation.
- Schedule an appointment – It is safe to get multiple vaccines
during one visit.
- Know where to get vaccinated – The doctor’s office is a common
place to get vaccines, but other trusted places include pharmacies,
health clinics and school health fairs.
As AIAW kicks off, Unity offers activities and resources to
support Adolescent Immunization Action Week efforts, including:
- A graphic and video animation of
Staying on TASK.
- A national public service
announcement (PSA) launching on Comcast channels and
via PatientPoint® monitors in physician offices
nationwide.
- A comprehensive, Spanish language
digital and broadcast campaign on TelevisaUnivision including
spotlights on Despierta América.
- A webinar discussion on April
2 at 12:00PM ET featuring Assistant Secretary for Health Adm.
Rachel Levine, MD, Todd Wolynn, MD, co-founder of Shots Heard
Around the World, and Jennifer Sanderson, parent, educator and
member of the Unity Mom Advisory Council, and moderator Chelsea
Clinton, DPhil, MPH, Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation.
“Adolescent immunization is vital to protect the health of our
community as adolescents represent our future. With the increase in
misinformation on the internet, it is more important than ever that
families trust credible sources, ask questions and schedule time
with their healthcare provider to get needed vaccines,” said Judy
Klein, President of Unity Consortium. "That’s what Adolescent
Immunization Action Week is about — taking action for the health of
our young people.”
To learn more about Adolescent Immunization Action Week or
access educational information and toolkits, visit
unity4teenvax.org and follow the conversations on social media
using the hashtag #AIAW24.
About Unity ConsortiumUnity® Consortium is a
non-profit organization that unites diverse groups around a common
passion - the imperative to protect against all vaccine-preventable
diseases to support lifelong health. Our members represent public
and private organizations, industry, academia, healthcare
providers, retailers and advocacy groups. As one strong voice,
Unity Consortium addresses the unique challenges surrounding
adolescent and young adult health, prevention and immunization. For
more information, visit us
as https://unity4teenvax.org and follow
us on
Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok,
and YouTube, and like us
on Facebook.
For Inquiries:
Patty Caballeropatty@unity4teenvax.org
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26102a77-28bf-46bb-8322-fc5a0384f997