Pertussis: This has been the only illness included in childhood vaccines that has been increasing in our country, largely because the protection generated from the first shots wanes after five to 10 years. This means many adolescents and young adults become susceptible again, catch pertussis, and spread it to the community (even to their newborns, where it is particularly dangerous). In 2005, two preparations of a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster vaccine, called Adacel and Boostrix, came to the US market. Boostrix is approved as a single booster for children aged 10 to 18. Adacel has approval for those 11 to 64. The goal is to replace the usual tetanus booster, given between 11 and 12 years and then every ten years thereafter, with these newer preparations to boost immunity against pertussis.
Influenza: Every winter, Americans suffer through an influenza epidemic, and every 30 years or so (due now), a super epidemic called a pandemic comes along. Flu shots have been targeted to the elderly and other vulnerable populations for years, but became available as a routine immunization in 2004 for children aged six months to 23 months for the first time. Infants and toddlers are particularly hard hit by the flu, and it is hoped that immunizing them will reduce both illness and death in this age group.
Human papilloma virus: Whether they know it or not, astounding numbers of Americans are infected with this virus through sexual intercourse. About half of all sexually active adults will become infected at some point in their lives, and 80 percent of women are infected by age 50. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, but a few in particular are known to cause cancer. HPV causes almost all cervical cancers, with 70 percent of those cancers attributed to just two HPV subtypes. A newly released vaccine (also known as the "cervical cancer vaccine") was shown to be almost 100 percent effective against these cancer-causing HPV subtypes. This is generating great excitement among the scientific community, as it is truly an anti-cancer vaccine. This vaccine is recommended for the pre-teen (11- to 12-year) population as a series of three injections.The battlefront in the war on disease is ever changing. As new germs emerge, old ones mutate, and resistance to antibiotics becomes more common. New developments on the vaccine front are an important part of our ability to control and sometimes even eliminate serious diseases.
Related Content:
Immunizations and Your Child: The Lowdown on Vaccines Childhood Vaccinations To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate . . .
