American Indian / Alaska Native Vaccination
Protect the Circle of Life: Immunize Our Nations

"Let us put our minds together to see what life we can make for our children." --Sitting Bull, Lakota Sioux, 1877

Why Immunize Our Children

Responsibility to our communities

Ensuring the safety and health of our American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities is our responsibility. If enough people in our communities are protected, vaccine-preventable diseases will not be passed to our children, our families, and our communities.

Responsibility to our families

It is especially important to ensure the health of our families. An infant's immune system does not yet have the necessary defenses to fight off infectious diseases. This makes our children more susceptible to these illnesses. Immunization is one of the most important tools we have to protect our children from disease.

Vaccines protect people

Immunization protects people. Some vaccine-preventable diseases affect AI/AN people at a higher rate compared to other populations.

Vaccines Can Prevent These Diseases

• Bacterial Meningitis
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German measles)
• Polio
• Diphtheria, Pertussis, (whooping cough), Tetanus, (lockjaw)
• Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B
• Pneumococcal diseases
• Influenza (flu)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Rotavirus
• Zoster (shingles)

But I've never even seen some of these diseases!

Today, we see fewer people getting sick from these diseases in the U.S. The reason is that responsible healthcare providers and parents have given millions of children vaccines over the past years.

But don't be fooled. Those diseases are still out there. If we stop giving our children vaccines, the diseases that made people sick and even killed them only a few years ago will return.

Respect the circle:

• By taking preventive measures, such as getting immunizations against disease...
• By ensuring that our communities thrive mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically...
• By respecting the connection between our physical health and our environment health...

Where Immunizations Are Provided

Immunizations are provided for AI/AN people free of charge at Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban facilities located in 35 states. Vaccines can also be administered by most health care providers at low or no cost.

Where can I get my child vaccinated?

• Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban facilities
• Local health departments
• Community, urban or rural health center clinics

• Vaccines for Children participating provider*

  *American Indian and Alaska Native children 0 through 18 years of age can get vaccines at no cost through the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC). Ask if your healthcare provider is a "VFC" participating provider.

Vaccination Coverage Levels

Good news! For the first time, the National Immunization Survey (NIS) has reported coverage levels for the Alaska Native population as a distinct population group. Survey results show the success of combined vaccination strategies: vaccination coverage among Alaska Native populations has already exceeded initial goals. To learn more, read the following articles. 

Vaccination Coverage of American Indian/Alaska Native Children Aged 19 to 35 Months: Findings From the National Immunization Survey, 1998–2000
Source: American Journal of Public Health, December 2003

Vaccination Coverage Levels Among Alaska Native Children Aged 19-35 Months -- National Immunization Survey, United States, 2000-2001*
Source: MMWR* August 1, 2003 / 52(30);710-713

*Note: The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data in the weekly MMWR are provisional, based on weekly reports to CDC by state health departments.

Brochures and Flyers

Posters

Reproduction instructions:

• Downloading and using PDF files
• Reproducing materials on your office printer, at a local copy center, or at a commercial printer

See also:

• Posters for American Indian parents of pre-teens (images below) August 2009

Links to Government Sites

HHS CMS site for American Indians and Alaska Natives

Indian Health Service: Immunizations

Office of Minority Health: AI/AN Population statistics

Office of Tribal Affairs

National Hepatitis B Initiative for Asian Americans/Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders

Many more links to other sites