Are parents placing their children at risk for serious illness? - A Blog Item Written by Peter I. Liber, MD

Are parents placing their children at risk for serious illness? - A Blog Item Written by Peter I. Liber, MD

Are parents placing their children at risk for serious illness?

A Blog Item Written by Dr. Peter Liber

 

January 31, 2013



Although the data collection may not be perfect, the CDC reported this week that vaccination coverage remains low among US adults. Many adults are still contracting diseases like whooping cough that can then be passed on to small children with severe consequences.



Major new recommendations were:



1) to vaccinate pregnant women with tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) during each pregnancy, regardless of the interval since prior Td/Tdap vaccination. This recommendation was made to increase the likelihood of optimal protection for the pregnant woman and her infant during the first few months of the infant's life, when the child is too young for vaccination but at highest risk for severe illness and death from pertussis and to include the recommendation for all other adults, including persons aged 65 years and older, to receive 1 dose of Tdap vaccine.



2) PCV13 (pneumococcal) vaccine is recommended for adults aged 19 years and older with immunocompromising conditions (including chronic renal failure and nephrotic syndrome), functional or anatomic asplenia, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, or cochlear implants.



Take home message to all of us: a fully vaccinated parent & grandparent helps create a healthier environment for our children. At a minimum, adults should receive a yearly Influenza vaccine and at least one Tdap vaccine.