Is Your Family Up-to-Date on Vaccinations?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Friday that 2011 was the worst year for measles in the US in the last 15 years, with 222 cases, a big jump from the more typical 60 cases a year. The main reasons for the outbreak? International travel and unvaccinated patients.

According to the CDC, a full 200, or 90 percent of the cases of measles were associated with importations from other countries—either a US citizen picking up the disease during travel, a foreign national bringing it in from another country, or a non-traveler being exposed to the disease.

Most patients (86 percent) were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. In fact, 50 of the cases were children who had not been vaccinated because of a philosophic, religious or personal objection. Needless to say, the report stressed the importance of vaccination against measles.

Recommendations for Kids

In addition to measles, children should be vaccinated to protect against diphtheria, polio, tetanus, meningitis and whooping cough (pertussis), even if the diseases rarely occurs in the U.S. As the CDC report shows, diseases such as measles or polio still exist in other parts of the world, and it may be easy to come into contact with the illnesses through travel.

Periodic, or booster, shots are required for several vaccines, including tetanus and pertussis. It is important to keep an accurate record of childhood vaccinations so the doctor can give boosters when needed. Skipping vaccines is not a good idea, because this can leave a child vulnerable to certain diseases. If children fall behind on their immunization schedule, catch-up shots may be given without repeating a dose of an earlier vaccine.

Immunizations should be given to children when they are healthy and young to reduce the risk of contracting a disease and suffering complications. Because immunizations work by preventing an illness, a vaccine will not work if the child is already sick. Postponing vaccinations until a child is older may be too late.

The side-effects of vaccines may be uncomfortable, but they are not dangerous. Vaccines can cause a low-grade fever, soreness or redness at the injection site, headache, dizziness, fatigue or loss of appetite. In rare cases, children may have an allergic reaction to a vaccine. Some vaccines could cause a mild form of the disease, such as chickenpox, but the illness would be much less severe than if the child contracted the virus itself. Overall, vaccines are considerably safer than the diseases they prevent.

There is no clear evidence linking the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine to autism. A report from the Institute of Medicine found that thimerosal, an organic mercury compound used as a preservative in vaccines, does not cause autism. In addition, other studies have failed to show a link between some vaccines and sudden infant death syndrome, multiple sclerosis or other problems.

Adults Need Immunizations Too!

If you think immunizations are just for children, think again. Adults also may need several different vaccinations as they get older, including influenza, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, meningitis, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, human papillomavirus, hepatitis A and B, and herpes zoster (shingles). So talk with your doctor about any necessary vaccines and get ready to roll up your shirtsleeve.

• People over the age of 50, as well as those with a chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma should have the flu vaccine . This vaccination also may be recommended if you have a weakened immune system, work in a health care setting, or live in a long-term care facility. Flu vaccinations are given once a year, usually in October or November.

•  If you are over 65 or have had your spleen removed, your doctor may recommend that you have a pneumonia vaccine to protect you against infections of the lungs, blood and brain. This vaccine also may be appropriate if you have a chronic illness, weakened immune system, or live in a nursing home and have not previously received this vaccine.

• The tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is recommended by the CDC for adults 19 to 64 years of age if it has been more than 10 years since their last tetanus vaccine. Pregnant women who have not already received Tdap also should have the vaccine after delivery if it has been more than two years since their last tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis shot. Tdap protects against lockjaw, whooping cough and pertussis, which is a severe infection of the nose, throat or airway.

Additional vaccines also may be recommended:

• Those most likely to benefit from the meningitis vaccine are those who have a non-functioning or missing spleen, college freshmen living in dormitories, military recruits, and certain international travelers.

• You should have the chickenpox vaccine if you have never had the disease or if you cannot remember if you have had it or not.

• The measles, mumps, rubella vaccine should be given to people who were born during or after 1957 and never received the vaccination, as well as health care workers, college students, and international travelers.

• The human papillomavirus vaccine is recommended for women up to age 26 to protect them against infections that could cause cervical cancer.

• Hepatitis A and B vaccines may benefit people who are at risk of contracting infection due to lifestyle or occupational exposure.

• The Zoster vaccine to prevent shingles, a painful skin rash, may be given to adults age 60 or over.

For more information about childhood and adult immunizations, talk with your doctor or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for  recommended adult vaccinations, helpful handouts for parents and a checklist for travelers.