DHSS Press Release |
Date: October 8, 1999 DHSS-DPH35-1999 |
| Gregg C. Sylvester, M.D., Secretary Cynthia Collier, Communication Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 |
Contact: Allison Taylor Levine, DPH Phone: (302) 744-4907 Pager: (302) 247-1560 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION ADULTS: HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SHOTS?
Vaccines can protect adults against both common and potentially fatal diseases
DOVER - Many people are aware of the need to immunize young children against diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, rubella and diphtheria, but few realize that vaccines can be equally important for adults.
The Department of Health and Social Services' Division of Public Health is drawing attention to this health issue as part of National Adult Immunization Awareness Week (Oct. 10-16) activities.
"Many adults have lost track of their immunization records and may not even be certain what vaccines they had as a child," said Dr. Ulder Tillman, director of the Division of Public Health. "We're encouraging Delawareans to talk to their doctors and determine what they may need to prevent both common and potentially fatal diseases."
According to the National Coalition for Adult Immunization, as many as 70,000 adults die in the United States each year from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. Between 10 percent and 20 percent of the nation's population is infected with influenza each year.
Vaccines are available for common adult illnesses such as influenza, hepatitis B and pneumococcal disease. Some adults may also need vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, tetanus, Diphtheria and chickenpox.
Failure to immunize not only has health implications, but it also costs the nation billions of dollars in health care expenses and employee absenteeism. According to a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, working adults who received the influenza vaccine reported 43 fewer days of sick leave and 44 percent fewer doctors' visits. The net savings from immunization were $46.85 per person.
"The benefits of adult immunization are clear," Tillman said. "No one should take the chance of being hospitalized for, or dying from, a preventable disease."
For more information about immunization against these preventable diseases, call the Division of Public Health's Immunization Hotline at 1-800-282-8672.
Following are facts about a number of adult diseases for which safe and effective vaccines are currently available:
Chickenpox
Also known as varicella, chickenpox is a very contagious viral disease that can be contracted by standing in the same room with an infected person. Adults are 25 times more likely to die from chickenpox than children are. Adolescents and adults who have not yet had chickenpox should get the vaccine.
Diphtheria
An acute bacterial disease that affects the tonsils, throat, nose and/or skin, Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and sometimes death. It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by handling a tissue or drinking glass used by an infected person. All unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated people should be immunized for diphtheria.
Hepatitis A
A highly contagious viral infection of the liver, hepatitis A is found in the stool of infected people. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea, fatigue and abdominal pain. Childcare workers, men who have sex with men, illegal drug users and people who share a household or have sexual contact with an infected person should be immunized.
Hepatitis B
This highly contagious virus can lead to liver disease, liver cancer and death. It is spread through sexual contact, the sharing of needles, from mother to infant during birth and by living with a chronically infected person. People with multiple sex partners, health care and public safety workers, unimmunized adolescents, people who inject drugs and international travelers should be immunized.
Influenza
A highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs, influenza is one of the most severe illnesses of the winter. It is spread easily through coughing and sneezing, and can lead to hospitalization or death. The influenza vaccine is recommended for all adults, particularly those 65 or older.
Measles
A highly contagious virus, measles can be contracted by standing in the same room with an infected person. Measles can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, middle-ear infections and severe diarrhea. People born after 1956 who do not have proof of immunity should be vaccinated.
Mumps
This acute viral disease is spread by coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include a low-grade fever and swelling of the salivary glands. Adults born after 1956, especially high school and college students with no proof of immunization, should get the vaccine.
Pneumococcal Disease
An infection caused by a type of bacteria, pneumococcal disease can lead to bacterial pneumonia, which can invade the bloodstream and/or the brain. The infection kills up to 40,000 people in the United States each year. People 65 or older, those with chronic illnesses or weak immune systems, and residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities should be immunized.
Rubella
Also called German measles, rubella is a virus spread through coughing, sneezing, or by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of an infected person. It can cause death or birth defects in babies of women who contract the disease during the first trimester of pregnancy. People born after 1956 who have no proof of immunization, particularly women of childbearing age, should be vaccinated.
Tetanus
Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a bacterial disease that affects the nervous system. It is contracted through a wound -- particularly a deep cut made by a nail or knife -- that becomes contaminated. Tetanus bacteria are found in soil, dust and manure. It can lead to the locking of the jaw or death through suffocation. Adults who haven't had a Td booster in the past 10 years should be immunized.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
