That's Fit

Vaccinations aren't only for kids. In fact, CNN has a list of seven vaccinations adults need to seriously consider. For instance, you may have been vaccinated for whooping cough as a child, but experts say the bacterial infection is back, due to immunity of those vaccinated in the 70s wearing off. Doctors are recommending a booster for adults.

Other shots you might want to talk to your doctor about:

• chicken pox, if you've never had the illness
• shingles, approved for people over 60, but may be given to people over 50
• MMR, especially if you were born between 1957 and 1967
• traveler's diseases if you're taking a trip (influenza, typhoid, meningitis, and yellow fever, for instance)
  
• hepatitis B
  
  

If you vaccinate, talk to your doctor to see if any of these shots are appropriate for you.

According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, one in four toddlers are improperly vaccinated. Missed doses or improperly timed doses make up for the majority of immunization errors in children who are 19-35 months old.

Though immunization rates in the US remain good overall -- and the rates of children who are immunized by kindergarten age are higher than ever -- the CDC recommends children being vaccinated at the proper, recommended times. So, in addition to relying on your pediatrician's recommendations, it's important for parents to do their own homework.

For more information, see the CDC's information on vaccines.

Four people in the Milwaukee area are confirmed to have contracted measles. A 37-year-old man and three children under 2 years old have been infected and are currently contained to minimize the spread of the disease. Measles is a highly infectious disease that's spread through respiration.

Symptoms include a cough, fever, runny nose, and red eyes. While the symptoms themselves aren't necessarily serious, the rapid spread of the disease to those who aren't protected is a cause for concern. In the US the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is administered before 18 months of age. But in recent years, parents have voiced concerns over a possible link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The CDC maintains that the MMR vaccine is safe.

One of the Milwaukee measles patients had contact with up to 150 people prior to being contained, so area officials are concerned about a possible outbreak. As a precaution, city officials offered free vaccinations to citizens. A Milwaukee health department representative said that one immunization shot is 95% effective.

Gardasil, if you've been living under a rock, is the relatively new vaccine meant to protect girls from HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to cervical cancer. It's been nothing if not a controversial vaccine. When its use was approved, some parents cheered, others worried over a vaccine so new. States tried to mandate that girls get the vaccine, but the outcry was so great that that issue is still in limbo.

Now some are asking the question, "Should boys get the vaccine too?" Receiving the vaccine would mean immunity from genital warts for them, but the benefit would be far reaching. Not being infected with HPV would mean they wouldn't pass it on to women during sexual intercourse. Would parents consider giving a vaccine to their sons that would ultimately protect their sons' future girlfriends and wives?

I'm curious to hear from parents of boys. Would you consider giving your sons the HPV vaccine?

I have no idea when I last got a tetanus shot. But I just learned that I need a vaccine called Tdap, a three-in-one vaccination for tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis, every 10 years. Even if I was immunized as a kid against these diseases, I still need the shot. So do all other adults.

I never knew adults needed shots. Until now.

Apparently, about 50,000 to 70,000 adults in the United States die each year of diseases that are preventable by vaccine. It seems it's time we keep track of what we need, and when we need it. So here are some grown-up guidelines for those vaccinations we should not let pass us by.

Hepatitis B

If you've had a sexually-transmitted disease and/or are not in a monogamous relationship, you need this shot. If you have more than one sexual partner in a six-month period, you need this shot. It's given in three doses over several months and protects against liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is spread by sex with an infected partner or exposure to an infected person's blood.

I've had influenza exactly one time as an adult. It knocked me completely on my you-know-what for two solid weeks, just in time for Christmas and for my (then) fiance (now husband) to propose. It was so bad that I haven't missed a flu shot since, nor do I plan to anytime in the near future!

Vaccinations can be a controversial issue, especially flu shots, which aren't mandated for school attendance. But recent estimates done by Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices say that flu shots reduce the number of times children are hospitalized or seen by a doctor for the flu. Not only do flu shots help to prevent flu infections, they also reduce the likelihood of secondary infections sometimes seen in children who have the flu. And, explain health experts, there's also the protection of "herd immunity." When kids are protected, fewer get sick, so there isn't as much flu bug going around.

Keep in mind that flu shots only protect against influenza, a primarily respiratory virus. The stomach "flu" is not the same as influenza and can not be prevented by getting a flu shot. If you choose to get flu shots for some or all of your family members, keep in mind that October and November are the best times to be vaccinated.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) proudly stated that immunization rates for U.S. children remained above record highs. the statement did chastise teenagers though, as that age group seemed to be behind the younger kids in getting all the suggested immunization shots and so forth.

The data used by the CDC was for 2006, with age ranges covered including kids aged 19-35 months and teenagers from 13 to 17 years of age. The first group saw a 77 percent response rate for immunizations that target 10 popular diseases.

The goal of the U.S. Government states that a 90 percent participation rate is requested within three years (2010), so there is still some work to do. So far, though more than a three-quarter participation rate means that parents are paying attention to the importance of childhood immunizations.

April 21 through 28 (yep, that's this week) is National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). The U.S. HHS Dept and the CDC are coming together along with hundreds of communities across the country to support and educate regarding getting infant and childhood vaccinations.

Sadly, as many as 20% of American children are not up to date on vaccinations at age 2. That's a huge number, especially considering that enough unpreventable and uncurable diseases and threats exist against a child's health without putting them at unnecessary risk for additional avoidable illnesses.

This week's official theme, per the NIIW:
"Love them. Protect them. Immunize them."