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Immunization

Immunizations (or vaccines) are safe and effective tools that stimulate the immune system to recognize and fight specific disease-causing germs - without causing the illness itself. Beyond personal protection, widespread immunization contributes to herd immunity, reducing disease spread and protecting vulnerable populations such as infants and immunocompromised individuals. Globally, vaccination programs prevent millions of deaths each year and represent one of the most cost-effective public health interventions.

Why It's Important

Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases. It is one of the most cost-effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. It has clearly defined target groups and can be delivered effectively through outreach activities. Vaccines are vital to the public health goal of preventing infectious diseases. Immunization directly protects individuals who receive vaccines and herd (community) immunity prevents the spread of infection in the community.

Benefits of immunization include:

  • Prevents serious illness and death from infectious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumonia, and measles,
  • Builds herd immunity, protecting vulnerable people like infants and immunocompromised individuals,
  • Eradicates or controls diseases - smallpox has been eliminated and polio nearly eradicated thanks to vaccines,
  • Prevents long-term complications and cancers, such as HPV-related cancers and post-infection complications,
  • Reduces healthcare costs and economic burden - every dollar spent on childhood vaccines returns far more in economic benefit, and
  • Protects against broader health threats, including cardiovascular events and antimicrobial resistance.

What Is Known

Immunizations are recommended across all age groups and risk levels to maintain protection against vaccine-preventable diseases:

  • Pediatric and adolescent schedules begin at birth and continue through adolescence, guided by federal childhood and adolescent immunization schedules to ensure early and complete protection.
  • Adults (19 years and older) should follow adult immunization schedules, which includes routine vaccines like influenza, COVID-19, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), pneumococcal, and shingles as age- and risk-appropriate.
  • Immunocompromised individuals, regardless of age, are advised to receive additional or specialized vaccines such as high-dose influenza, pneumococcal conjugate, COVID-19 (including extra doses when appropriate), herpes zoster, and RSV based on their specific conditions and treatment regimens. Additional discussion and decision making for immunocompromised individuals should be made with the patient's healthcare provider.

These recommendations aim to maximize individual and community immunity by tailoring vaccination efforts to age, health status, and vulnerability.

Who Is at Risk

Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases because their immune systems are still developing. Older adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions or weakened immunity also face higher risks of serious illness and complications from infections like flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pertussis. Healthcare workers and international travelers are at increased risk both of exposure and of transmitting diseases to others.

How To Reduce Risk

Healthcare providers play a central role in reducing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases through proactive communication, structured advocacy, and combating misinformation.

Healthcare Provider Engagement

Implement practice-level systems like reminder-recall, standing orders, vaccination policies, and quality improvement initiatives to ensure patients receive timely immunizations. Confident, presumptive vaccine recommendations by trusted clinicians - doctors, nurses, pharmacists - significantly increase patient uptake.

Empowering Trusted Messengers

Front-line providers and local community leaders (e.g., faith leaders, community health workers) are highly trusted and effective in addressing vaccine concerns. Training in effective, empathetic communication - such as the "Trusted Messenger Program" - helps clinicians respond to hesitancy and build trust in vaccine conversations.

Countering Misinformation

Monitor local misinformation trends actively and respond swiftly with clear, evidence-based messages through channels your audience uses (social media, community events, clinic communications). Use communication strategies proven effective: highlight scientific consensus, use plain language, apply humor to correct myths, and avoid scare tactics or absolute certainty.

By combining proactive systems, trusted clinician voices, and clear, community-centered messaging, healthcare providers can effectively reduce risk and strengthen vaccine confidence.

How It's Tracked

Immunization coverage is tracked in several ways, focusing primarily at the state and federal levels:

  • New Mexico Statewide Immunization Information System (NMSIIS) is NM's statewide immunization registry that tracks and records immunizations, generates immunization history and recommendations, and maintains detailed patients records throughout the state. NMSIIS is a confidential and secure computer database designed to collect and maintain vaccination records of children and adults.
  • VaxView is a public consumer portal that enables individuals, parents, and guardians to access, save and/or print, official immunization records, eliminating the need to carry multiple or aged documents.
  • National Immunization Survey (NIS), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Adolescent and Teen Health.
  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services.
  • CDC's VaxView websites provide vaccination coverage data for all ages. Monitoring coverage for recommended vaccinations across the country helps CDC assess how well local areas, states, and the nation are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).