According to the U.S. government, adults who skip their immunizations for a number of ailments including whooping cough and influenza are creating a health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 2.1% of adults aged 18 to 64 are immunized against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, even though since 2006 there has been a combination vaccine that can protect against all three. (Source: WSJ)
The result could be a national push to get doctors to check immunization charts of their adult patients in much the same way they would for those under 18.
And if you belong to the majority of adults who aren't even sure what you should be immunized for, here's the list from the Centers for Disease Control.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm5641-Immunization.pdf
What are your thoughts? Do you think adults should take more responsibility for getting immunized? Do you think the government is getting too involved in the health of its citizenry?
And additional food for thought, Measles outbreak hits 127 people in 15 states
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I actually work for a public health department. I am one of the office personnel. I do think it's an adults responsibility to get their shots up to date. We are actually screening most adults who come for shots now. The Tdap which is the one that your talking about has the added protection of the pertussis is the one offered to those whose Td has expired. My thinking behind this is by protecting these adults and immunizing them against pertussis we are protecting those babies who have not got enough protection in their bodies. We had a little outbreak up here in the White Mountains of AZ a few years ago. Now that we are immunizing the adults and teens it seems to be helping.
July 10, 2008 - 1:22pmThis Comment