(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG — While back-to-school season is in August, the month also is National Immunization Awareness Month.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department wants to remind parents that one of the ways to help keep children healthy this school year is to make sure they are up-to-date on their immunizations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children keep up to date with both their immunizations and well-child visits. They report even small declines in immunizations can increase the number of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles that can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death.

The immune system is the body’s defense in keeping you healthy, the American Association of Immunologists say. When your immune system is working, it keeps you from getting sick. Immunizations train your immune system ahead of time without the risk of infection, so your body can fight against specific diseases. These tools are safer than trying to develop natural immunity because some diseases can have lasting, damaging effects on your body. To learn more about your immune system, visit immunologyexplained.aai.org. To download a childhood immunization schedule, visit cdc.gov/vaccines.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department serves Wood, Wirt, Calhoun, Pleasants, Ritchie and Roane counties. Its main office is located at 1824 Murdoch Ave. in Parkersburg. The offices are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 304-485-7374 or visit the website, movhd.com for more information.

Follow them at Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department MOVHD on Facebook, @MOVHealthDept on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube and look for them on LinkedIn.