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Old Diseases Pose New Risks to Adults as Childhood Shots Wear Off
May 07, 2008 06:04 PM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
by Josh Katz
Adults who were vaccinated as children against deadly diseases such as whooping cough and mumps may now be susceptible to such illnesses, calling into question the durability of immunizations.
Adults who were vaccinated as children against deadly diseases such as whooping cough and mumps may now be susceptible to such illnesses, calling into question the durability of immunizations.
30-Second Summary
Pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough, has made a resurgence because the vaccinations adults received for the illness as children are wearing off.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says all adults should get the vaccination, “yet only 2 percent of adults have had their shots updated,” according to CNN.
Scientists are still unsure about the durability of many childhood vaccines, and additional long-term studies need to be done, The Canadian Press reports. Dr. Samuel Katz, co-inventor of the measles vaccine and a specialist in pediatric infectious disease at Duke University, said, “I don’t think we know much at all.”
Experts recommend that certain adults get vaccinations for a number of illnesses in addition to pertussis, such as shingles and Hepatitis B.
Recently, many fatal diseases once thought neutralized in the United States have been making comebacks, including measles and mumps. Some parents have chosen to withhold vaccinations from their children, concerned that the immunizations could cause autism. Experts assert this practice may be contributing to the rise in such diseases.
But in 2004, the National Institute of Medicine released a report claiming no evidence linked vaccinations with neurological disorders.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says all adults should get the vaccination, “yet only 2 percent of adults have had their shots updated,” according to CNN.
Scientists are still unsure about the durability of many childhood vaccines, and additional long-term studies need to be done, The Canadian Press reports. Dr. Samuel Katz, co-inventor of the measles vaccine and a specialist in pediatric infectious disease at Duke University, said, “I don’t think we know much at all.”
Experts recommend that certain adults get vaccinations for a number of illnesses in addition to pertussis, such as shingles and Hepatitis B.
Recently, many fatal diseases once thought neutralized in the United States have been making comebacks, including measles and mumps. Some parents have chosen to withhold vaccinations from their children, concerned that the immunizations could cause autism. Experts assert this practice may be contributing to the rise in such diseases.
But in 2004, the National Institute of Medicine released a report claiming no evidence linked vaccinations with neurological disorders.
Headline Link: ‘Seven vaccines you need right now’
CNN refers to the case of Diana Simpson, a dental hygienist from Davison, Mich. She contracted pertussis and infected her baby and her mother, as well. The article also lists shots adults should obtain in addition to the pertussis booster.
Source: CNN
Background: Childhood shots may begin to wear off into adulthood
Stamford, Conn.’s The Advocate cites CDC statistics that “only 10 percent of women age 18 to 26 have been vaccinated for human papillomavirus” and about “2 percent of adults have received shots for whooping cough and shingles.”
Source: The Advocate
Just because the long-term effects of vaccines are unclear does not mean natural infection is the answer, The Canadian Press notes. “Never forget natural infection comes at a great cost, both potentially to the individual and definitely to society,” Dr. Michael Osterholm says. “Each infection is a crapshoot as to whether it’s going to be mild, moderate, severe or fatal. And those are odds none of us should have to take.”
Source: The Canadian Press
Related Topics: Nonvaccination linked to resurgence of childhood illnesses
More than 70 cases of measles, a potentially deadly illness, have been confirmed in the United States, after public health officials had claimed the disease was eliminated in 2000. One of the possible causes is that some parents do not want to get their children vaccinated for measles, fearing the vaccinations can cause autism, reports findingDulcinea.
Source: findingDulcinea
Measles isn’t the only preventable childhood disease rearing its head. Public health officials have reported outbreaks of mumps and pertussis in pockets around the country. Both conditions can be prevented with vaccines.
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: Health Web Guide
FindingDulcinea’s Web Guide to Health provides trustworthy sites to find important information about health, including how to find a doctor or dentist, and where to learn about medicines.
Source: findingDulcinea
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