The recent flu epidemic has motivated many Americans to get flu shots to protect and maintain their well-being. 44 US states have already declared
widespread flu outbreak, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reported that the percentage of Americans going to the hospital has
doubled within the past month. While the flu vaccine
doesn’t guarantee a flu-free effect, people see it as the best option for flu prevention.
The number of people getting flu shots significantly increased, but there are only few adults who get non-flu vaccination.
CDC
says that the vaccination coverage levels in adults are “unacceptably
low” for pneumonia, cervical cancer, and hepatitis. The coverage for
the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and HPV (human papilloma
virus) vaccines have only showed modest gains, too.
The low rate of American adults getting non-flu vaccination is believed to be caused by their confusion about what vaccines to get, the vaccination schedules, and their individual risk to vaccines.
To solve this problem, public health workers are encouraged to be intent on influencing adults to get immunizations. The CDC website has also provided an online
assessment to help people determine if they are due for any immunizations.
For their part, adults should ask their healthcare providers if they are
due for any shots. They can also visit health centers or consult their
doctors for immunization vaccines.
For adults looking for more information on diseases and health care, this Dr. Kamal Patel Twitter page is a good source of information.
