Thursday, April 11, 2013

Preventing Increase in Pertussis

Virginia Health Commissioner Karen Remley said diseases such as measles and whooping cough haven't been eradicated despite childhood vaccinations, and pertussis is creeping back because adults aren't getting the Tdap booster shot.
Michelle Charters, director of Project Immunize Virginia, said adults think vaccines are for kids. "But grandparents are often caregivers and need to be protected" so they don't spread the virus to young grandchildren.
"Babies will die if parents and grandparents don't get immunized to protect them," Lewis said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults receive a one-time dose of Tdap, especially if they are around preschoolers.

from aarp.org

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