Get A Shot. Give A Shot.

It’s back to school season and Shot@Life has partner with Walgreens for their “Get A Shot.  Give A Shot®” campaign.  From July 12th through August 31st, when your child receives a back-to-school immunization, Walgreens will provide a life-saving vaccine to a child that needs it most!  But wait, you can get in on the action too!  If you receive your flu shot from September 1st through October 13th, they will also provide a vaccine as well!

Do you know that 1.5 million children die each year from diseases that vaccines exist for?

Shot@Life, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, educates, connects and empowers Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries.

But, why is this important?

• Polio is 99% of the way of being completely eradicated worldwide.  This could be the second disease to be completely wiped out.

• The rotavirus vaccine can prevent children from dying from severe diarrhea.  Cases have dropped by 60%.

• The new pneumococcal vaccine that was launched in 2011 could save the lives of up to 400,000 children a year.

• Measles deaths have been cut by more than 90% in the past decade in Africa

Access to immunizations saves 2.5 million children’s lives each year.

For just a few dollars per child, vaccines can prevent disability and disease for a lifetime – saving millions of dollars in potential healthcare spending.

What can you do to help?

• Head over to your local participating Walgreens store to get back-to-school immunizations for your children.
• Visit Shot@Life to find out how you can become involved
• Write a letter to your senator or representative to encourage their support of worldwide access to vaccines
• Take the pledge to support worldwide immunizations for all children
• Donate to Shot@Life through my Team ImmUNITY page – just $1 can provide a lifesaving measles vaccine to a child!

As a Shot@Life Champion, I am helping lead this grassroots movement to educate and inspire my community to take action. I hope you will help me ensure that all children have a shot at a healthy future.

Here in the United States, parents are given a choice whether to vaccine their children or not.  This isn’t about your beliefs or convictions on vaccines.  This is about giving a parent in a developing country the ability to CHOOSE to have their child vaccinated.

One child dies every 20 seconds.

All children deserve a childhood.

This post is for social good and is a cause I believe in.  No compensation was received.  All pictures and information used with permission.

[php snippet=4]