Everyone is familiar with vaccinations, but we tend only to think of them as something needed for children--or for adults once a year during flu season in the fall and winter.
But the flu shot isn't the only vaccination adults need, and it's so very important we raise awareness about the other lifesaving vaccinations many adults are missing out on.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clearly demonstrate that rates of adult vaccination remain well below the target levels, and that this problem is particularly pervasive among minority populations. Thousands of adults in the U.S. die every year from diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and whooping cough that are easily prevented by vaccines.
The problem is not that these vaccines aren't readily available or that they are especially cost-prohibitive, but that there is a lack of knowledge about which vaccines adults need, the different reasons why they need them, and just how incredibly important they are. Far too many Americans are dying from diseases that we can easily prevent with a simple shot, and this is simply unacceptable.
Right here in Arkansas, we've seen a sharp rise in diseases--like mumps--that vaccines are designed to protect against. It is a misconception that these diseases are a thing of the past. The reason they were eliminated as a public health crisis is because of the widespread use of vaccinations. We're still every bit as vulnerable to them as we were before, which is why it's imperative to keep vaccinating as aggressively as ever.
Widespread vaccinations provide a valuable asset known as herd immunity. This is an indirect form of protection against infectious disease. In a nutshell, once a critical portion (90 percent to 95 percent) of a community is immunized against a certain disease, then most members of that community are protected against it. Contagious diseases require a carrier to spread; when there aren't carriers available, outbreaks are prevented.
It's not surprising, then, that a recent rise of preventable contagious disease in the U.S. can be correlated with a decrease in vaccination rates for the same diseases. Vaccinations don't just protect you from disease, but they also help keep others well.
The CDC recommends that all adults over 19 get a TDAP vaccination (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough) followed by a tetanus booster every 10 years. There are additional vaccinations recommended for adults with weakened immune systems: people over age 65 and people living with chronic illnesses such as asthma, HIV/AIDS, COPD, liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Despite clear CDC recommendations, we keep seeing a major discrepancy between target and actual rates of vaccinations, and it is the most vulnerable populations for which rates remain the lowest of all.
In 2014, African Americans were 20 percent less likely to have received a flu shot than their white counterparts. And African Americans have a higher incidence of many of the chronic illnesses that weaken the immune system and increase vulnerability to contracting and experiencing major complications from the flu, as well as an increased risk of developing and dying from complications from chronic illnesses across the spectrum.
It is often overlooked that a significant portion of mortality related to chronic illness is actually caused by complications of the illness rather than the illness itself.
We must do better at spreading information and awareness. Make sure to talk to your health-care provider about which vaccinations you need, and don't be afraid to discuss with them any concerns you might have.
There are many popular misconceptions about immunizations, but don't be afraid to ask your doctor to separate fact from fiction. We are here to help.
You can find vaccinations at your doctor's office, pharmacies, community events, and many other places. Make sure you're talking to your friends and family who might need these vaccinations the most. Their lives might depend on it.
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Derek Lewis, M.D., is a primary-care physician in Little Rock, and the founder and owner of Arkansas Primary Care Clinic. Dr. Lewis is celebrating 30 years of service to Central Arkansas communities and families.
Editorial on 11/03/2017