Vaqueros Mark National Immunization Awareness Month

UTRGV students return to campus as N.I.A.M comes to a close 

Sam Allen | Pulse Magazine

It’s August, which for many Vaqueros means that it is “back to school” season. While Vaqueros are busy preparing for the new semester, what they may not know is that August is also National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). 

August was officially declared NIAM in 2013. It was established by the National Public Health Information Coalition and is now coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The stated purpose of NIAM, according to the CDC’s website, is to educate individuals and families about vaccines, encourage immunization and honor the role immunization plays in maintaining a healthy society. 

As stated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), staying up to date on the latest vaccinations is not merely a personal choice, but a communal responsibility.

“I think immunization is very important. It helps us to prevent diseases and

cannot receive immunization. Overall, it really does help with our health, and it helps others as well,” said Kimberly Rivera, a senior nursing program student. 

Dr. Hugo Rodriguez, a clinical associate professor in the college of health professions, also emphasized the importance of immunization. 

“You know, we have the constant interaction with students [which can be] a promoter in the spreading [and] developing of different conditions like the flu. It is fundamental,” he said.

According to data collected by the National Immunization Survey and provided to the CDC as of May 11, 2024, adults aged 18 through 29 years of age have the lowest vaccination rates. Of all 18 to 29 year olds, only 34.6% of individuals reported receiving a seasonal flu vaccine. Of those surveyed, only 41.1% of Hispanics said they received a seasonal flu vaccination. Total vaccinations administered to adults aged 18 and older, as tracked by the Texas Immunization Registry ImmTrac2, has increased overall from the previous year. 

However, as flu season approaches, Cameron County has seen a 18.05% decline in flu vaccines administered when compared to rates recorded in July of 2023. Administered flu vaccines declined 12.37% in Hidalgo County when compared to July 2023.  

In light of these statistics, Vaqueros are reminded that they have access to a variety of immunizations, including a free seasonal flu vaccine. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, hepatitis B, chickenpox and meningitis vaccines are all offered at reduced cost.  

According to HHS and the CDC, the purpose of providing easy access to vaccines is to achieve what is known as herd immunity or community immunity, the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.

As flu season approaches, Steve Machner, a physician assistant who administers vaccinations at the Student Health Services on the Brownsville campus, explained Vaqueros can receive free flu vaccines at UTRGV. 

“We try to offer the immunization to as many students [as possible]…you try to reach a point where you achieve herd immunity, get enough people vaccinated, where hopefully it helps to limit the impact of disease. There are some who don’t want to take it and that’s fine. But there are many who do. It’s a free vaccine,” Machner said.

Vaccination is essential on college campuses where, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the nature of college life can turn college students into super-spreaders. Meaning, college students may pass on illnesses to a large number of individuals. Immunization is even more relevant at UTRGV where students are bussed across the RGV to attend classes, sit in close quarters and are encouraged to attend sizable social outings both on and off campus. 

Despite the unique spread risks college campuses present, college aged students remain the lowest vaccinated age group. This may be due to a variety of factors, including vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. A study into why college students are vaccine hesitant found that college students commonly cited hearing or reading negative media about the COVID-19 vaccine as a reason for not getting immunized.

However, vaccine hesitancy doesn’t seem to be a severe issue on the UTRGV campus. “The only real skepticism I have experienced has been around the COVID vaccines. A lot of people were saying that it came out too fast [and that] there are too many to choose from,” commented Rivera.

“Knowledge is power,” said Machner. “Just [by] going to the CDC website you can find lots of information about various vaccines. The material is out there if people are worried. We also provide a vaccine fact sheet [that] lists all the common questions, concerns, possible reaction types, anything [you] could possibly expect. [We provide] all that information so [you] leave with information about the vaccine and [you] can always review the information on these handouts before you agree to accept [a vaccine].” 

Rodriguez confirmed that there is a low-level of vaccine-skepticism within the classroom. While he acknowledged that students may come with questions regarding things they have heard or read, overall, he said students trust preventative measures and authorities like the CDC. 

“We want to promote a culture of evidence-based medicine…There are different ways of how vaccines work. One of the most common takes a small portion of a virus and removes the pathogenicity, or the capacity to harm or do damage, and uses the information provided by the virus to develop the immune system without causing serious issues,” Rodriguez explained.

Machner also confirmed the low levels of vaccine-skepticism among UTRGV students. 

 “[Yes], there are some people that don’t want to be immunized and it’s their right, and I respect that. But there are many more who do and who will accept the vaccine when we offer it,” she said. 

For those who remain skeptical, Rivera recommended that they continue researching and “talk to [your healthcare] providers or talk to the PA [physician assistant] at the Student Health Center.”

Students interested in immunization or who have questions about vaccines can contact Student Health Services for more information. They can be reached by phone in Edinburg at 956-665-251, in Brownsville at  956-882-3896 or by email at healthservices@utrgv.edu