Immunization vital for good health at all ages

By KIMBERLEY MCGEE

VIEW ON HEALTH

A small pinch is worth a lifetime of good health. Immunization shots, or vaccinations, are important for everyone, from infants to the elderly, to maintain the overall health of the local and national population.

"The key thing is that vaccines aren't' just for kids, they span the lifespan for kids, teenagers and adults," said Anne Schuchat, MD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was in Las Vegas December 9 to speak at the Immunization Update at the Four Seasons Las Vegas, sponsored by the Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition (SNIC) and Every Child by Two, Carter/Bumpers Champions for Immunization. The Immunization Update was held to inform Nevada's immunization providers of the latest immunization information, deliver updates about influenza vaccinations and discuss the importance of whooping cough prevention, a concern for the CDC, particularly in Southern Nevada.

The Tdap vaccine, which protects against pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria is highly recommended for all adults and children, she said. Since pertussis can cause serious illness in infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends the Tdap vaccination for parents and all adults who spend time with, or care for, infants.

This year, ten infants that were too young to be vaccinated for whooping cough themselves died after contracting the disease from an adult.

The Nevada State Board of Health mandates that all children enrolling as seventh-graders after June 30, 2008, must receive the Tdap immunization before they begin the school year. Whooping cough has made a return to the nation's population, with frightening results.

Experts are now recommending that adults receive a tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years and substitute a Tdap vaccine for one of the boosters. The dose of Tdap can be given earlier than the 10-year mark.

"We recommended tetanus shot every 10 years, now we recommend to get the Tdap," said Schuchat, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service as well as an Assistant Surgeon General. She has received worldwide recognition for her work in vaccination research and prevention programs. Prior to her current appointment as an Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service and as NCIRD Director, Dr. Schuchat made many important contributions to the prevention of infectious diseases among children.

Whooping cough is miserable for a teenager but it is life-threatening for babies.

"We've seen higher rates of this disease than we have seen in more than 60 years," she said. "And we think it's going to be a matter of time until we see it in Las Vegas."

The draining disease tends to return in cycles and comes back periodically, she said, but not as prevalent as the CDC has seen in the last year.

"To fully protect the population we need to immunize teenagers and adults and all who will be around a new baby," she said.

And you can't know who will be around your baby, from the cashier at the drugstore to the person sitting next to you in the waiting room.

"For every baby born there are two other doses of the vaccine (made) who can give to have the parents or caregivers vaccinated and keep them from spreading it to the baby," she said.

Parents need to be proactive when immunizing their child. In general, one in three toddlers hasn't received all the recommended vaccines, or immunizations may be incomplete, she said.

"Check with your doctors," she said. "It's very important for parents, to see if their child needs more vaccines or is current on all their vaccines.

In the past five years there have been more vaccines available, so older siblings and others around babies need to check to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.

"Things have been changing very rapidly over the past 5 to 10 years," Schuchat said. "We have newer vaccines that have been licensed since 2005, meningitis, which in 2000 was available for teens and older teens, and HPV vaccine for young girls and women.

The chicken pox vaccine should be given twice instead of once, as in the past, she said.

"We found a lot of outbreaks when we only give it once," she said.

Vaccination recommendations follow the science, she said. It's a very precise guideline they follow.

Fear is one of the main reasons many shy away from the many immunizations available and recommended. Local mom of three Jenny Morle was worried about inoculating her children before discussing it with her pediatrician.

"I thought it might make them sick or cause some damage later, like autism or something," Morle said, citing internet articles that had been forwarded to her from concerned family members. "They were uneducated, I think."

Her elementary aged children are home schooled, so she wasn't sure she needed to vaccinate them against the flu, chicken pox and other communal diseases. After much research and asking a lot of questions, she felt it was important for her family's long term health to receive the annual immunizations and flu shots for the entire family.

"Once I knew what it was all about, we get the flu shot and are always up on the kid's vaccines," she said. "We haven't had the flu in years."

Recent studies have shown that autism is not connected with vaccinations; however it is still a concern for many parents of infants.

"Autism is such a serious condition, it's very common and very hard on families and in the government we take it very seriously and do a lot of research," Schuchat said. "The good news is that there have been a lot of studies on vaccines and autism and they just don't find a link. We think vaccines are good to keep them healthy and safe, but we don't think the two are connected at all."

"It's so important to get children vaccinated to protect them and not to spread to other people," she said. "People who have compromised immune systems, kids with Leukemia, they can't get (vaccines) so they depend on the rest of us to not spread the diseases to them."

Some communities and religious congregations don't believe in vaccines.

"And those are the communities where we see those outbreaks," she said.

Parents should know if you don't have insurance that they are eligible for free vaccines. The Vaccine for Children program by the Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition ensures every child can have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

The Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition is a diverse partnership of individuals, businesses and organizations committed to improving and protecting the health of children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in southern Nevada.

The Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition's mission is to promote health and prevent the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in southern Nevada through community partnerships and education. There will be a VFC awareness campaign in Southern Nevada in February.

The no-cost seasonal flu shot clinics hosted by the Nevada State Immunization Program, and the Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition. The vaccinations are available on a first come, first served basis to anyone considered to be at a high risk for serious flu-related complications. The influenza vaccination is now recommended for everyone 6 months and older.

"Everyone over 6 months of age that can have a flu shot really take advantage of that," said Pam Beal, executive director of the SNIC.

Flu clinics are being hosted by the Southern Nevada Health District around the valley for easy accessibility.

"The Vaccine For Children's program is a federally funded program with no cost to low cost to children who otherwise might not be eligible because they couldn't pay," Beal said.

In February, the SNIC will launch a VFC awareness campaign to increase awareness and educate parents for children and teens.

"If your pediatrician is enrolled in the program, there will be posters in the lobby, so ask your doctor if you are eligible for the free vaccines," she said.

The VFC program began in 1994 and has more than doubled its efforts to ensure every child in Southern Nevada is inoculated.

"Especially in these tough economic times more families have to choose between health and paying bills," Beal said. "This is part of our mission to increase vaccination coverage for children and teens. We have three annual campaigns. Right before school starts we make sure we have clinics all over the city for families to get vaccines and updated vaccines, regardless of their income status."

Unfortunately, they see too many families lining up before school when they could have quickly had their children vaccinated or been vaccinated themselves during the year at other clinics.

"What we've seen is that there are too many children in the lines that qualify for the VFC programs," Beal said these children should have already had their shots."

"We want no barriers, to remove all barriers to ensure all children of Southern Nevada and are immunized and stay healthy throughout their lifespan," she said.

The child's official shot record is printed out to help keep track of the child's immunization, she said. Shot records are available at webiz.nv.gov registry.

"That has played a huge role in child immunization rates," she said.

For additional information about the Southern Nevada Immunization Coalition and its no-cost flu shot clinics, visit www.SNICNV.org or www.nv.gov/immuzations.

"We don't want parents not to vaccinate because of concerns about money," Schuchat said. "Ask your doctor or call the health department to find out where you can go to get free vaccines."

The flu vaccine is also available free of charge for those in serious need.

"This time of year the flu vaccination is really important," Schuchat said. "We see a lot of flu during the winter months, so we strongly urge people to get their flu shot."

And it's not too late, in fact, it's the perfect time of year to roll up your sleeve and be inoculated from the intense flu strain floating around the country.

"We recommend the flu shot for people aged 6 months and older," she said. "Some people think they missed the (window), but it's also good to vaccinate in January and beyond because most flu seasons peak in February."

Myths surround the flu shot. Some think that if they had the flu last year or earlier in the year, they will be immune, or that the vaccine itself will make them ill with the flu. Untrue, Schuchat said, as the flu continues to change year after year, making it a new enemy to the body's immune system.

"The vaccine this year is good for the strains we are seeing around the country," she said. "You should get the shot to protect you as well as the people around you."

Pregnant women, people who suffer from asthma or battle diabetes in particular should line up for a simple shot. It's safe and effective, she said.

"But even if you are not in those groups we strongly urge everyone to get the shot so that they don't get (the flu) and continue to spread a (tough) strain to the people around them," she said.

There are more vaccines recommended now than just a few years ago.

"We have vaccines for 16 diseases," she said. "They are safe and constantly (evaluated)."

In 1985, there were less than 10 vaccines for common diseases.

"There are a lot of newer vaccinations, such as pneumonia, which we have found to be extremely effective," she said.

The vaccines administered now are much more effective than they were in 2000, she said.

The CDC recommends the pneumonia vaccine for those 65 and older or with chronic lung disease such as CODP.

For a number of adults, the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended, for health workers, those with liver disease or who live a risky lifestyle with a lot of sexual contact. Go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines for more information on adult immunizations recommended by the CDC. Go to www.flu.gov for updated information on current flu strains and vaccinations.

"It's really handy," she aid. "People can find out if there is anything left that they have to get because it is very hard to keep up with it."