Health Literacy

The last day of October marks the end of Health Literacy Month — but health literacy continues to be a Healthy People 2030 priority area.

There’s widespread agreement that health care is not the principal driver of health. Rather, the conditions in the places where people live, work, and play — what many refer to as social determinants of health — have the greatest influence on our health. Organizational health literacy — the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others — is one of those key social determinants.

New treatments and scientific breakthroughs that lead to cures characterize modern medicine. But as exciting and beneficial as many of these innovations are, none compares to the power of prevention. In addition to getting enough physical activity, ensuring healthy eating, and maintaining mental health, a fourth essential — and often overlooked — element in any comprehensive wellness strategy is keeping up with clinical preventive services.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). With the new school year about to start —and flu season right around the corner —it’s a great time to remind people in your community that getting all recommended vaccines protects against serious illness.