Immunization for seniors

Dale W. Bratzler, B. F. Christiaens, Katherine Hempstead, Kristin L. Nichol

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vaccine-preventable diseases remain a significant health problem for adults in the United States. Far more adults die from the complications of vaccine-preventable diseases than do children in this country. Available vaccines that are effective in preventing morbidity and mortality from these conditions are underutilized, and significant racial and ethnic disparities in rates of utilization of adult vaccines persist. A variety of important vaccine-preventable diseases affect seniors. However, influenza and pneumococcal infections stand out as being responsible for more cases and more deaths each year among seniors than all other vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States combined. Current vaccination rates for these two diseases are far short of the Healthy People 2010 target rates of 90% immunization of the population of adults aged 65 years or over. Despite state efforts to improve vaccination rates of seniors, efforts that have included regulatory and educational approaches, significant challenges remain in designing immunization programs for seniors that are universally effective.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)128-134
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Law, Medicine and Ethics
Volume30
Issue number3 SUPPL.
StatePublished - Sep 2002

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Immunization for seniors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this