Your body may be in top condition but being healthy alone does not protect you from certain diseases, particularly contagious ones. One foolproof way of avoiding some of the serious and potentially deadly diseases is to get immunizations against them. Unfortunately, many American adults do not take advantage of available vaccinations that could keep them safe from unwanted but avoidable illnesses and unnecessary medical expenditures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that many adults miss crucial vaccinations that could protect them from dangerous and life-threatening diseases. In its report based on the results of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC said that many American adults do not get crucial vaccine shots.
Only 14 percent of adults who are 19 years and older get immunized against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. Roughly 35 percent of women who are 19 to 26 years old, on the other hand, get immunized against human papillomavirus (HPV), while only 20 percent of older adults 60 years old and over receive the shingles vaccination.
Comparing the new NHIS data with 2011 estimates, CDC reported there is a modest increase in Tdap, herpes zoster and HPV vaccination rates. Nonetheless, immunization rates remain low and below national goals.
The agency also blamed low vaccination rates for outbreaks. In 2012, for instance, there were 48,000 cases of whooping cough, the highest number of cases reported since 1955. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease preventable by Tdap vaccine.
"Vaccination coverage levels among adults are low," CDC said. "Improvement in adult vaccination is needed to reduce the health consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases among adults and to prevent pertussis morbidity and mortality in infants, who need the protection afforded by the Tdap vaccination during pregnancy recommendation."
A report from Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published December 2013 cited reasons why vaccination rates in the U.S. remain low. It pointed out that many Americans do not comprehend the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. The report also blamed the lack of system that would ensure adults get the recommended vaccinations.
"From antibiotic-resistant Superbugs to Salmonella to the seasonal flu, infectious diseases disrupt lives and communities," TFAH executive director Jeffrey Levi said. "Fighting these diseases requires constant vigilance. The bad news is that we found major gaps in the country's ability to prevent, control and treat outbreaks, leaving Americans at an unacceptable level of unnecessary risk."
