Not nearly enough U.S. adults are getting recommended vaccines, health officials say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the new estimates. They are based on a national survey taken in 2011. Adult vaccines protect those who get them. They also help to protect people's close contacts, including children. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against some forms of pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections. It's recommended for people ages 65 and older. About 62% had received this vaccine, the CDC said. The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Vaccination rates were up in 2011. But still only 13% of adults had ever received this shot. Another type of tetanus shot is also given, but it does not protect against whooping cough. Cases of whooping cough have greatly increased in recent years. Only 36% of adults at high risk for hepatitis B have been vaccinated, the CDC said. The rate for hepatitis A is just 13%. The shingles virus is recommended for adults ages 60 and older. But only about 16% have received it, the CDC said. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published the report January 31. HealthDay News wrote about it.

By Henry H. Bernstein, D.O.
Harvard Medical School

What Is the Doctor's Reaction?

Many people think vaccines are just for babies, young children and teens. Think again! Adults need vaccines, too.

Vaccines protect adults from serious diseases. When adults are protected, they don't get sick. In turn, all the children around adults are less likely to get sick, too.

Some adults get all the vaccines they need. There also are many adults who:

• Don't know they need vaccines
• Don't believe vaccines work
• Don't find time in their busy schedules to get vaccines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just published data on how many adults received their recommended vaccines in 2011. The information comes from a national adult health survey.

The results were not good. Vaccination rates for adults were well below where they should be. Rates were:

• Low for most routinely recommended vaccines
• Well below the "Healthy People 2020" targets of the federal government

Compared with 2010, more women got the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine in 2011. Plus, there was a slight increase in the number of adults under 65 who received the Tdap vaccine. This shot protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). But there was little or no improvement in other vaccination rates.

Major improvements in vaccination rates are needed to keep adults healthy. To be sure that more adults get all the vaccines they need, the study authors suggest that doctors:

• Let patients know the importance of vaccines
• Provide educational materials about vaccines
• Increase access by offering vaccines in doctors' offices or recommending other places, such as pharmacies and workplaces
• Keep track of how many patients in their practice have received vaccinations
• Remind all adults who are missing any vaccines
• Try to remove administrative and financial problems that prevent people from getting vaccinated

It is important that adults be vaccinated because:

• Nearly 50,000 U.S. adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases
• The cost of treating adults with these diseases is more than $10 billion each year
• Unvaccinated adults can pass on disease to children who are too young to be immunized

What Changes Can I Make Now?

Check to be sure you are up to date with all of your vaccines:

• Pneumococcal vaccine
  
  • Recommended for all adults 65 and older
  • Recommended for adults 19 through 64 years old with certain risk factors, such as diabetes, heart conditions, emphysema or cancer
• Tetanus and diphtheria toxoid with acellular pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (Tdap)
  
  • Tdap is recommended for all adults who never had it before.
  • Pregnant women should receive a dose of Tdap with every pregnancy.
• Herpes zoster (shingles vaccine)
  
  • A single dose is recommended for all adults age 60 and older.
• Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine
  
  • For females, a 3-dose series is recommended at age 11 or 12, and for those aged 13 through 26, if not previously vaccinated.
  • For males, a 3-dose series is recommended for routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, and for those aged 13 through 21, if not previously vaccinated. The vaccine may also be offered to males ages 22 through 26.
• Hepatitis A
  
  • Recommended for adults of any age with factors that increase their risk of infection
• Hepatitis B
  
  • Recommended for adults of any age with factors that increase their risk of infection

As parents, we do our best to protect our children. So it is especially important that adults receive all of their vaccines. By vaccinating all close family members, we also can reduce a child's exposure to disease. This is called "cocooning."

Cocooning has been used largely to protect newborns and young infants from whooping cough (pertussis). Infants have high rates of serious disease and death from pertussis. It is critically important that parents and all caregivers get the Tdap vaccine. This is the best way to protect the youngest babies from this serious disease.

The CDC now recommends that all women get the Tdap vaccine with each pregnancy. Vaccinating women while pregnant can help protect their newborns during the first several months of life, until they are old enough to get the pertussis vaccine themselves.

What Can I Expect Looking to the Future?

Researchers will continue to monitor adult vaccination rates. They will also look for ways to increase the number of adults who receive their recommended vaccines.

Your child's pediatrician also may ask you if you have received your vaccinations. Some pediatricians are beginning to offer vaccines in the office to the parents of their patients.

You can find more information on the CDC's adult vaccinations page.