Posted on 02/04/2010 11:13:50 AM PST by decimon
TFAH Media Contact: Laura Segal (202) 223-9870 x 27 or lsegal@tfah.org IDSA Media Contact: John Heys (703) 299-0412 or jheys@idsociety.org
Washington, D.C. February 4, 2010 - A new report, Adult Immunization: Shots to Save Lives, released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) found that more than 30 percent of adults ages 65 and older had not been immunized against pneumonia in 36 states as of 2008. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts recommend that all seniors should be vaccinated against pneumonia, which is a one-time shot for most individuals, since seniors who get the seasonal flu are at risk for developing pneumonia as a complication.
Nationally, 33.1 percent of seniors had not been immunized against pneumonia, and even in the state with the highest immunization rate - Oregon - more than one quarter (26.8 percent) of seniors were not immunized. Washington, D.C. had the lowest number of seniors immunized, with nearly half (45.6 percent) of seniors not immunized.
Overall, the Adult Immunization report found millions of American adults go without routine and recommended vaccinations each year, which leads to an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 preventable deaths, thousands of preventable illnesses, and $10 billion in preventable health care costs each year. In addition to low rates of pneumonia immunizations, only 2.1 percent of eligible adults have had the tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine; only 10 percent of eligible adult women have had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; and only 36.1 percent of all adults were vaccinated against the seasonal flu in 2008.
"Thousands of lives could be saved each year if we could increase the number of adults who receive routine and recommended vaccinations," said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. "We need a national strategy to make vaccines a regular part of medical care and to educate Americans about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines."
"Today, the vast majority of vaccine-preventable diseases, hospitalization and deaths occur among adults. This is tragic, because currently-available vaccines can prevent many of these illnesses," said William Schaffner, MD, FIDSA, chair of IDSA's Immunization Work Group and co-author of the report.
The report identified several key reasons why adult vaccination rates remain low in the United States despite the recommendation of medical experts, including:
* Limited access: Most adults are outside of institutionalized settings, like the military or colleges, where vaccines can be required; * Limited care and insurance coverage: Primary and preventive care for adults is limited, particularly for the uninsured and underinsured; * Limited financing for immunizations: Many adults have medical insurance that does not pay for vaccines and their administration, so out-of-pocket costs may be prohibitive for many individuals; * Misunderstanding and misinformation: Many adults are misinformed about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines; and * Limited research and development: Vaccine research, development, and production have been limited in the United States for decades.
"This country has a first-rate system for immunizing children, but too many adults are falling through the cracks," said Richard J. Whitley, MD, FIDSA, president of IDSA. "Clearly, we need to build a better system for immunizing adults."
"Thousands of adults die each year from vaccine preventable diseases, yet adult vaccination rates remain low," said Litjen (LJ) Tan, MS, PhD, Director of Medicine and Public Health for the American Medical Association. "The health care community can take a lead role in raising immunization rates by educating their adult patients on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and letting them know that getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect themselves and loved ones from disease."
The report outlines a number of policy recommendations to increase rates of adult vaccinations. Some top recommendations include:
* Close coverage gaps: Providers should be required to offer full coverage for all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); Medicare should fully cover all recommended vaccinations under Part B; and a Vaccines for Uninsured Adults (VFUA) Program should be created to cover all adults who are uninsured. * Consider post-health reform scenarios: As any vaccine-related provisions are being phased in, steps should also be taken to expand support of existing adult vaccine programs during the interim time before these proposals are in full effect, and a Vaccines for Uninsured Adults (VFUA) Program would still need to be created to cover adults who will remain uninsured after reform. * Increase public education: CDC and local and state health departments should receive increased resources to create and manage broad public education campaigns targeted at improving adult immunization rates, including communicating about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. * Increase provider and patient information: Standard practices should be developed to review patients' immunization histories and vaccinations should be offered at appropriate medical encounters, such as during physicals, cancer screenings, and pre-natal visits. Health providers should also play an increased role in reducing transmission of disease and set an example by complying with the recommended vaccines to protect themselves, their staffs, and their patients. * Increase research, development, and production: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should receive increased resources for vaccine research and development, including safety surveillance and research, and incentives should be provided for development and research in the United States to assure supplies of vaccines, especially during times of crisis.
The full report is available on TFAH's Web site at www.healthyamericans.org, IDSA's Web site at www.idsociety.org, and RWJF's Web site at www.rwjf.org. The report was supported by a grant from RWJF. Percent of Seniors NOT Vaccinated Against Pneumonia by State
Rates listed are the number of adults aged 65 and older who have not been vaccinated against pneumonia. 1= Lowest vaccination rate; 51 = Highest vaccination rate. Rankings are based on combining three years of data (2006-2008) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to "stabilize" data for comparison purposes. The pneumococcal vaccine is a one-time shot.
1. District of Columbia (45.6%); 2. Illinois (40.4%); California (39.0%); 4. Florida (37.6%); 5. New York (36.7%); 6. New Jersey (36.5%); 7. Texas (36.3%); 8. (tie) Alabama (36.0%), Alaska (36.0%), Georgia (36.0%), and South Carolina (36.0%); 12. Arkansas (35.8%); 13. New Mexico (35.4%); 14. (tie) Idaho (35.3%) and South Dakota (35.3%); 16. Kentucky (34.8%); 17. Tennessee (34.6%); 18. Michigan (34.2%); 19. (tie) Maryland (33.9%) and Nevada (33.9%); 21. Louisiana (33.7%); 22. Connecticut (33.4%); 23. Mississippi (33.2%); 24. (tie) Indiana (33.1%) and West Virginia (33.1%); 26. Missouri (32.7%); 27. Hawaii (32.1%); 28. Utah (32.0%); 29. Virginia (31.9%); 30. Arizona (31.8%); 31. Ohio (31.6%); 32. Kansas (31.5%); 33. North Carolina (31.2%); 34. Vermont (31.0%); 35. North Dakota (30.6%); 36. Massachusetts (30.4%); 37. Pennsylvania (30.3%); 38. (tie) Delaware (30.0%) and Washington (30.0%); 40. Iowa (29.9%); 41. Nebraska (29.8%); 42. Wyoming (29.7%); 43. (tie) Maine (29.5%) and Wisconsin (29.5%); 45. Minnesota (29.2%); 46. Oklahoma (28.9%); 47. (tie) Montana (28.8%) and New Hampshire (28.8%); 49. Rhode Island (28.2%); 50. Colorado (27.4%) and 51. Oregon (26.8%).
Trust for America's Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. www.healthyamericans.org
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is an organization of physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals dedicated to promoting health through excellence in infectious diseases research, education, patient care, prevention, and public health. The Society, which has more than 9,000 members, was founded in 1963 and is based in Arlington, Va. For more information, see www.idsociety.org.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. Helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need—the Foundation expects to make a difference in our lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.
Sorry, I won’t get the vaccine. I’m also 30, but I won’t get it when I’m 70 either.
Strep by strep ping.
This is for just the bacterial, streptococcal form of pneumonia?
The streptococcal form is the one to most be concerned with?
I was given a flu shot and something else a few years back. That winter I was horribly ill. I pass on their garbage now.
I have also not been immunized against pneumonia in 36 states. Seriously, who writes this stuff?
/johnny
"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts recommend that all seniors should be vaccinated against pneumonia, which is a one-time shot for most individuals, since seniors who get the seasonal flu are at risk for developing pneumonia as a complication."
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the post flu secondary pneumonia is usually caused by staph aureus. Maybe they have new numbers from recent epidemiology studies.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of human pneumonia, often called pneumococcal pneumonia. They have two pneumococcal vaccines for Streptococcus pneumoniae:
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV), is a vaccine used to prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) infections such as pneumonia and septicaemia. PNEUMOVAX 23, manufactured by Merck, is the currently licensed PPSV. This is for adults 65 years of age or older, adults with serious long-term health problems, smokers, and children older than 2 years with serious long-term health problems.
Streptococcus from Wikipedia is probably easier than Streptococci from the University of South Carolina med school.
This is for just the bacterial, streptococcal form of pneumonia?
They're talking about PNEUMOVAX 23. It's probably useless against any other types of pneumonia.
The streptococcal form is the one to most be concerned with?
Yes. Any corrections are always appreciated.
I got the pneumonia vaccine the year I retired.
I have not taken any other vaccines other than a tetanus shot.
It’s a sad day when the public cannot trust its government to act in the public’s best interest.
HHS has become too politicized to be trusted.
Once more, if you will.
Staph, also bacterial, is likely the most common pneumonia opportunist of influenza?
Strep, however, is likely a more serious infection and may also follow flu as pneumonia?
The pneumococcal vaccine will in most people protect against a strep form of pneumonia piggybacking a bout of flu?
I’m asking these because people opting out of yearly flu shots might opt in on a one-time pneumococcal vaccination.
Well, I am 70 or soon to be and I won’t take any of their vaccines for anything and haven’t for years. BTW whatever happened to the big bruhaha about H1N1. We spent all that money on that vaccine and now it is going begging.
Yes, last time that I checked.
Strep, however, is likely a more serious infection and may also follow flu as pneumonia?
It's not necessarily more serious. They can both be deadly. How bad any microbial infection is subject to a number of variables, e.g. number of invading organisms, "route" of invasion, factors affecting virulence, host immune system, etc.
The pneumococcal vaccine will in most people protect against a strep form of pneumonia piggybacking a bout of flu?
Pneumovax 23 should cover those 23 subtypes of pneumococcus. Folks older than 65 should get it. They only have to get it once.
Thank you.
They’re trying to kill us off by any poison they can!
Best way to be immune from pnuemonia is keeping your digestive tract functional.
I always thought so.
I did not know that one could be vaccinated against a bacterial infection.
I didn't know there is a pneumonia vaccine. A search reveals that it might cost about $25 so I might get it come summer. Summer because I'd prefer to suffer in warm weather should I have some reaction to it.
My beloved husband of 43 years has Parkinson’s. He is 70, and I am a mere 66.
Neither of us will take any vaccines.
Did you know that pneumonia used to be called the “old man’s friend’, because it was an easy way to die? So, we decided that we would just as soon die of pneumonia, second only to strawberries.
sorry about your hubby....at least he has a wonderful young wife to care for him.....
LOL!
We have running jokes in the morning and the evening, as I struggle to put on his compression stockings, then remove them. Arthritis in my fingers and hands make it a real music fest of ouches/moans/groans.
Haven’y you heard about the old joke of visiting the old folks for an “organ recital:?
Pneumonia? Gimme a break. Seriously!
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