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Intended to raise awareness about the importance of adult immunizations, National Adult Immunization Week began Monday and continues through Saturday.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 50 to 80 percent of all adults in the country don’t have some or all of the shots they need.
As many as 50,000 adults in the U.S. die each year from vaccine-preventable disease or related complications. Although most adults realize that immunizations play an important role in keeping infants and children healthy, many are unaware that readily available vaccines offer a safe and cost-effective way to prevent serious illnesses and death among adults.
“We tend to forget that life expectancy in the U.S. has almost doubled in the last century, and vaccinations are a major reason for that advance,” said Phil Smith, M.D., Infectious Disease Specialist at The Nebraska Medical Center. “In 1900, we were most worried about infections, not cancer or heart disease.”
Immunizations help reduce absences at work, school and social events, and decrease the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.
“I strongly recommend flu shots for anybody who doesn’t want to get the flu,” said Dr. Smith. “Individuals 65 years of age or older with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease are particularly at risk of influenza infection and should get a flu shot. But if supplies are adequate, I recommend all adults over age 50 get vaccinated for influenza.”
The influenza immunization will be available in October.
All adults should be up to date on tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. A one-dose booster is recommended every ten years. The pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for healthy adults 65 years of age or older.
One dose provides a lifetime of protection against the most common pneumonia-causing bacteria.
Dr. Smith also suggested that people under the age of 65 receive the new adult pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.
For additional information, visit the CDC’s National Immunization Program at www.cdc.gov/nip.