In honor of National Immunization Awareness Month, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores is emphasizing the importance of immunizations for people of all ages and highlighting the role of NACDS member pharmacies.
The social campaign, which takes place in August, is part of NACDS’ broader “Nourish My Health” educational initiative, which emphasizes the importance of preventive health screenings and healthy eating to reduce the risk of diet-related heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Both the National Immunization Awareness Month digital campaign and Nourish My Health are part of NACDS’ dynamic Health and Wellness Innovation Initiative.
(Read more: NACDS highlights CDC study underscoring the critical role of pharmacy)
NACDS found that vaccinations, combined with a nutritious diet, can effectively reduce the risk of complications from infectious diseases in people with chronic health conditions. People with heart disease can experience serious complications from the flu, and people with diabetes can experience serious complications from COVID-19.
A series of NACDS digital content on Facebook, LinkedIn and X will feature various NACDS member pharmacies and explain how they are engaging during National Immunization Awareness Month and every other day to meet people everywhere on their healthcare journey.
“We are proud to recognize the efforts of NACDS members during National Immunization Awareness Month,” said Steve Anderson, president and CEO of NACDS. “The recent public health emergency has underscored the irreplaceable role of pharmacies. Specifically, pharmacies have administered nearly 340 million COVID-19 vaccinations in addition to providing tens of thousands of COVID-19 tests and essential access to antiviral medications to Americans across the country.
“Pharmacies have a unique and powerful reach, being within a five-mile radius of 90 percent of Americans. Nourish My Health is just one example of how pharmacies can expand their operations in other ways across the business – by driving initiatives where food is medicine, by offering chronic disease prevention and treatment services, and by delivering comprehensive health and wellness solutions.”
(Read more: Retailers begin offering appointments for flu and RSV vaccinations)
Nourish My Health—a collaboration with leading health organizations—was developed in response to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which in 2022 was the foundation for the national strategy to end hunger, improve nutrition, and reduce disease. Nourish My Health promotes basic health screenings to understand disease risk, provides healthy eating guides and nutritional information, provides resources for professionals, and hosts a food security survey that informs meaningful access solutions.
In addition to collaborating with healthcare organizations, NACDS member pharmacy companies participate in Nourish My Health at select locations and take advantage of scheduled wellness events, immunization clinics and educational events.
