Vaccinations: Preventive Medicine for Kids and Adults

Immunizations aren't just kid stuff. Adults also need protection against infectious disease. Yet, surveys find that most American adults, and many children, fail to get the recommended shots that protect against tetanus, hepatitis b, and other possibly fatal diseases.

Before we had vaccines, small pox, polio, and other diseases swept through the world's cities and towns killing or crippling thousands. Small pox has been conquered. Polio is controlled. Yet, each year thousands of Americans suffer measles, tetanus, and other infectious diseases that could have been prevented by a timely vaccination.

Staying in touch with your family physician and keeping track of vaccinations will help ensure that you and your family get the full benefit of these safe and effective preventive health measures.

Children.

• Babies between birth and 15 months of age should be immunized against:
• hepatitis B, a serious viral infection of the liver;
• Haemophilus b, a bacterial infection that can cause meningitis -- an infection of the tissue around the spinal cord or brain;
• diphtheria, tetanus (lock jaw) and pertussis (whooping cough); polio;
• measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles); and chicken pox, a new vaccine recommended by public health authorities and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Adults.

Many adults don't know that they, too, need regular vaccinations.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that adults get:

• a tetanus-diphtheria booster shot every 10 years;
• flu shots every fall ( if over age 65 or if suffering from chronic lung diseases such as asthma or chronic bronchitis); and
• other vaccinations as your family physician suggests to protect you against pneumonia, hepatitis b, measles, mumps, and rubella.

Family physicians are medical specialists who take care of you and your family. They are trained to treat nine out of 10 medical problems and can help you get the health care services you and your family need, including vaccinations.

The preceding article was provided as a public service in support of Family Health Month by The American Academy of Family Physicians, 8880 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114-2797 USA, (800) 274-2237, ext. 4218, or (816) 333-9700; FAX: (816) 333-3344

Similar of Vaccinations: Preventive Medicine for Kids and Adults

Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccines (MMR)

Adverse Events After MMR Vaccination Adverse events associated with administration of MMR vaccine range from local pain, induration, and edema to rare systemic

Family Planning

Family Planning is the conscious effort of couples to regulate the number and spacing of births. Through Family Planning couples can avoid having children too

Family Planning Can Offer "Dual Protection"

Many of today's couples carefully plan the number of children they will raise, often with the help of modem contraceptive choices available from their

Family Planning Week Ends Stressing Birth Control

The government was deeply thinking over giving special incentives to the parents who had one child, the health adviser, ASM Matiur Rahman, told a news briefing

You Can Make a Difference: 10 Ways to Help an Alzheimer Family

"We like to go out, but my husband's too much to handle alone. I could use some help." "Call me, If I can't talk, I'll let you know." "It's difficult when

Family Planning Areas for Action

Reducing up dropout rates in pills and Injectables through quality service provision, including counseling and management of side effects. Addressing up the

Immunization

Why it is important to share and act on information about Immunization Each year, 1.7 million children die from diseases that could have been prevented with

Topics:

• Kids and Teenage Health
• Disease and Treatment
• Women's Health