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American Adults Skipping Life-Saving Vaccinesby Jennifer Wider, M.D.Society for Women's Health Research If you think you were done with your childhood shots, think again! Important vaccinations needed for adults are being skipped in far too many people. “Most childhood vaccines confer long-term protection without a need for boosters,” explains Sabra Klein, M.D., assistant professor in the department of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md. But certain vaccinations need to be on the radar screens of adults. Unfortunately, many parents who ensure that their child’s shots are up-to-date often neglect themselves. A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Ga., reveals that less than half of the adults polled were familiar with diseases like shingles, meningitis, hepatitis b and whooping cough; all potentially fatal diseases that could be prevented with vaccines. According to the CDC, the following vaccinations are part of the recommended adult immunization schedule: *Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td/Tdap): Adults need one dose of Td booster every ten years. *Human papillomavirus (HPV) to protect against cervical cancer: Three doses are recommended for all women 26 years and under who have not completed the vaccine series. Ideally, the vaccine should be administered before potential exposure to HPV through sexual activity. However, women are sexually active should still be vaccinated. *Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): Adults born before 1957 are considered to be immune to measles and mumps; adults born after 1957 should receive one or more doses of MMR unless they have a medical contraindication, documentation of >1 dose, history of measles based on health-care provider diagnosis, or laboratory evidence of immunity. *Varicella: All adults without evidence of immunity to varicella (commonly known as the chickenpox) should receive two doses of single-antigen varicella vaccine unless they have a medical contraindication. *Pneumococcal: One dose is suggested for adults aged 65 and older. *Zoster to protect against shingles: A single dose of zoster vaccine is recommended for adults aged >60 years regardless of whether they report a prior episode of herpes zoster. Persons with chronic medical conditions may be vaccinated unless a contraindication or precaution exists for their condition. *Hepatitis a and b, Meninogococcal: This vaccination should be discussed with health care provider. As hundreds of Americans volunteer to test a new swine flu vaccine, health care providers are encouraging adults across the country to make sure their other vaccinations are current. As of right now, “pregnant women are recommended by the CDC to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine because of the recent report illustrating that they are at a higher risk of complications from infection with the novel 2009 H1N1 virus,” says Klein. “Recommendations for other adults include persons 25-64 who have health conditions that may increase their risk of complications from the flu as well as caregivers and healthcare and emergency medical personnel.” Over the last several months, many health professionals have voiced concerns of swine flu vaccine shortages. According to Klein, sex differences in response to childhood and adult viral vaccines should be considered when examining wide-spread, global vaccination for the swine flu. “Although rates of vaccination are typically similar between the sexes (especially in developed countries), antibody responses to vaccines, including flu vaccines, are often higher in females than males.” In other words, women may require less vaccine for the same immunity. “In addition to mounting high antibody responses, females also develop more severe side effects following vaccination, including fever, pain, and inflammation at the site of the injection,” says Klein. “The fact that women can generate robust antibody immune responses, experience fewer side effects, and still be sufficiently protected from diseases when given a lower dose of influenza vaccine should be considered in light of the ongoing concern about vaccine shortages in response to the current influenza H1N1 pandemic,” asserts Klein. In other words, a lower dose will provide the same immunity for women with potentially less side effects. This may allow the vaccine reserves to be more widely distributed, considering women would use less of the vaccine. Of course, more studies are necessary to confirm these findings. |
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