Medicaid and CHIP Help Keep Kids and Teens Healthy and Protected

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Staying on track with the recommended immunization schedule for vaccines like HPV, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), and meningitis is a critical part of making sure children stay healthy for school, childcare, and beyond. According to the CDC, during the COVID-19 pandemic children fell behind on their immunizations. While immunizations rates have increased over the last few years, many children continue to be behind. Back-to-School season serves as a backdrop to remind families about the importance of catching up on missed vaccinations so kids and teens can be better protected from disease and severe illness. With free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), these childhood vaccines are covered for kids up to age 19—including COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu vaccines. According to the CDC, September and October are the best times for most people to get vaccinated.

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Leverage Hispanic Heritage Month to Share Materials

One of the biggest barriers in accessing health care is language, with almost 26 million people in the U.S. speaking limited English. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Hispanic people account for nearly two-thirds of the limited English proficiency population. Hispanic Heritage Month, observed each year from September 15 to October 15, is a great opportunity to share the Campaign’s Spanish-language materials with communities and families to inform them about Medicaid and CHIP.

Many of the Campaign’s multi-lingual resources include critical enrollment information and feature culturally relevant images. You can find a variety of materials, including social media images and messages, posters, PSAs, print materials, eNewsletter templates, digital videos and more, in the Outreach Tool Library.

Check Out Our Updated Customization Guide

Did you know that many of the Campaign’s materials can be customized to share with families in your community? Our Customization Guide outlines the steps organizations can take to personalize Campaign materials to include logos and state-specific information to enhance your outreach! Using these materials customized with local organization information can be particularly helpful when reaching out to Spanish-speaking communities. Check out our Customization Guide (PDF, 10.33 MB) that includes updated materials for key initiatives on InsureKidsNow.gov.