Health Watch By Steve Mullenix

The North Jefferson News



The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has declared September 23-29 as National Adult Immuni-zation Awareness Week (NAIAW).

This year is the seventeenth consecutive observance of NAIAW. “ Immunization: Promoting Prevention for a Healthier Life” is the theme for this year’s campaign.

Despite the many advances in modern medicine, each year thousands of people in the U.S. die from diseases that are easily prevented by safe and effective vaccines. It is the goal of the NFID to raise awareness about the importance of adult and adolescent immunizations and to help protect against serious disease such as shingles, influenza and meningococcal meningitis.

Although most adults realize that immunizations play an important role in keeping infants and children healthy, many do not recognize readily available vaccines also offer a safe and cost-effective way to prevent serious illnesses and death among adolescents and adults.

As many as 46,000 adults in the U.S. die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Disease prevention through vaccination saves many healthcare dollars by keeping people healthy and avoiding the expensive therapies and hospitalizations needed to treat infectious diseases like influenza and pneumoccoal diseases. Immunization also helps reduce absences at work, school and social events and decreases the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.

Influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations and an average of 36,000 deaths each year in the U.S. Although about one in five Americans will get influenza each year, many do not get vaccinated.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends an annual influenza vaccination for anyone who wishes to reduce his risk for this respiratory illness.

Individuals with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease are particularly at risk for influenza related complications, as are people in nursing, convalescent or institutional settings.

People over 50 years of age are urged to get the influenza vaccine annually. In addition, anyone who is in close contact with someone at high risk of influenza infection should be immunized to help prevent spreading the virus. This includes parents, grandparents, babysitters, healthcare workers and caregivers. Vaccinations will be available throughout the influenza season, which begins October and lasts until May.

People 65 years of age and older and those with certain other medical conditions are also at higher risk for severe illnesses caused by pneumococcal disease, which is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

According to the CDC, nearly one million adults aged 65 years and older become ill because of pneumonia each year and roughly one-third will have to be hospitalized. The risk of pneumococcal infections and complications can be dramatically reduced or eliminated with the pneumococcal vaccine. Both the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are covered under Medicare Part B for qualified individuals.



Immunization facts

• Each year in the United States, more than 46,000 adults die from complications of vaccine-preventable diseases

• Influenza and pneumonia together are the eighth-leading cause of death in the U.S.

• In the U.S. only 36 percent of healthcare workers are immunized against influenza each year, despite long-standing recommendations by the CDC

• Nearly 1 million adults aged 65 and older become ill due to pneumonia each year and about one-third will require hospitalization

• More than half the annual deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease occur in the elderly

• Meningococcal meningitis is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. toddlers, adolescents and adults. Nearly 2,800 Americans contract meningococcal disease each year

• One in every 10 people with meningococcal disease die. Among those who survive, 20 percent of cases result in permanent health problems

• Hepatitis A is the most common vaccine-preventable disease in travelers to other countries, and it’s also the most common type of hepatic disease reported in the U.S.

• Fifty-three percent of people aged 20 years and older are not protected against tetanus and diphtheria. In those over 70 years of age the rate soars to over 70 percent. Most deaths because of tetanus occur in persons over 60 years of age

Vaccines are among the safest prevention options available. Individuals should consult their healthcare providers to determine their risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and the need for immunizations.

It is important to know that Influenza immunizations will become available at most physicians offices and a number of pharmacies in October.

Steve Mullenix (R.Ph) co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with his wife, Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.). They can be reached at 631-1201.