US: Adults Need Vaccines, Medical Societies Urge

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 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081119120151.htm

Adults Need Vaccines, Medical Societies Urge

ScienceDaily (Nov. 23, 2008) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) and

the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have released a joint

statement on the importance of adult vaccination against an increasing

number of vaccine-preventable diseases. The statement has been endorsed by

17 other medical societies representing a range of practice areas.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 95 percent of

vaccine-preventable diseases occur in adults and more than 46,000 adults die

of vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications.

“It is crucial for physicians – internists, family physicians, and

subspecialists who provide primary and preventive care services for patients

especially those with chronic diseases – to discuss and review their adult

patients’ vaccination status and either vaccinate them or provide a referral

for recommended vaccines,†said P. , MD, FACP, president of

ACP. “We believe that the Patient-Centered Medical Home model of care –

which in coordination with the other components of the health care delivery

system is the future of health care – will help to increase immunization

rates among adults.“

“Thanks to immunization, most children never suffer from vaccine-preventable

diseases but that’s not true for their parents or grandparents,†said

Schaffner, MD, FIDSA, MACP, chair of IDSA’s Immunization Work Group.

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of adults get sick, miss work, and are

hospitalized. Many adults die because of vaccine-preventable diseases or

their complications. Costs associated with treatment run in the billions.â€

Adult vaccination rates range from 26 to 69 percent, depending on the

vaccine and specific target group. ACP and IDSA plan to work with the other

medical societies toward facilitating access to tools and resources to help

physicians encourage adult immunization amongst their patients.

The joint statement includes the following five proposals:

Primary and subspecialty physicians should conduct an immunization review at

appropriate adult medical visits to educate patients about the benefits of

vaccination and to assess whether the patient’s vaccination status is

current, referring to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Adult

Immunization Schedule.

When appropriate, physicians should provide or refer patients for

recommended immunizations.

Physicians who administer vaccines should ensure appropriate documentation

in the medical record. In addition, documentation of vaccination in other

settings, patient refusal and any contraindications is advisable. The use of

immunization registries and electronic data systems facilitates access to

accurate and complete immunization data.

Physicians who refer patients for vaccination also should review and

document the vaccination status of their patients whenever possible.

Consistent with the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and

multiple subspecialty organizations, physicians and their staff should be

immunized consistent with CDC recommendations, with particular attention to

annual influenza immunization.

The list of vaccines that adults should discuss with their physicians includes

influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus-diptheria-pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B,

measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox (varicella), meningococcal, human

papillomavirus, and shingles (zoster). Specific recommendations vary depending

on age and other factors.

[Guest guest]

What diseases are they referring to? Flu and Pneumonia?

Vida

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> According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 95

percent of

> vaccine-preventable diseases occur in adults and more than 46,000

adults die

> of vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications.