New Data Show Unacceptably Low Adult Immunization Rates and that Adults are Unaware...

New Data Show Unacceptably Low Adult Immunization Rates and that Adults are
Unaware of Infectious Disease Threat

New CDC data to be presented at a conference held by the National Foundation
for Infectious Diseases

WHAT: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will present new adult
immunization coverage data and medical experts specializing in infectious
diseases and public health will address the serious problem posed by these low
rates and call for increased awareness and uptake of vaccines at a national
news conference.

WHY: In addition to the CDC data, a new national survey finds that few
Americans can name more than one or two of the more than one dozen vaccines
recommended for adults. The survey also shows that about half are not
concerned about whether they or another adult family member might get a
vaccine-preventable disease, yet 50,000 or more U.S. adults die from these
diseases annually. The survey showed that Americans are most familiar with and
accepting of the need for influenza vaccination, but other diseases cause
significant morbidity and mortality:

-- There are more than 1 million shingles cases each year. With our aging
population this number can be expected to rise
-- There are over 6 million new HPV infections every year and nearly 10,000
cases of cervical cancer
-- Pertussis incidence has risen significantly since an all time low in 1976.
Adults can suffer serious morbidity due to pertussis but, importantly, can
also pass the infection on to vulnerable infants and elderly persons

With safe and effective vaccines available, this widespread morbidity and loss
of life is largely preventable. Vaccines recommended for adults protect
against more than a dozen serious diseases including influenza, shingles
(herpes zoster), pneumococcal disease, whooping cough (pertussis), human
papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis A and B. The low public awareness about
the role of adult vaccinations must be corrected for both individual and
societal protection.

WHO: Speakers from academia, government, health professional societies, and
the public health field:
-- Program Moderator: Kristin L. Nichol, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief of Medicine,
Minneapolis VA Medical Center; Professor of Medicine and Vice Chair,
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota
-- Keynote Speaker:Anne Schuchat, MD, Assistant Surgeon General, United States
Public Health Service; Director, National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-- Mark S. Dworkin, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and
Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
-- Stanley A. Gall, MD, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health
and Professor of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of
Louisville
-- Robert H. Hopkins, MD, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences; Vaccine Medical Advisory Committee, Arkansas Department of
Health
-- Michael N. Oxman, MD, Professor, University of California, San Diego; Staff
Physician, Infectious Disease Section, VA Medical Center, San Diego

WHEN: Wednesday, January 23, 2008; 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

WHERE: The National Press Club, 14th and F Streets, NW, 13th Floor, Holeman
Lounge, Washington D.C. 20045
Also via live Web cast at www.visualwebcaster.com/NFID-Adult-Immunization and
telephone at 800-913-8744.

CONTACT: Jennifer Corrigan, 732-382-8898, 732-742-7148 (cell phone) or
Meredith Jarblum, 212-886-2226 to register.

Pre-registration for attendance is preferred. Journalists must present media
identification or a business card issued by a recognized news organization.
Freelance journalists must present a letter of assignment on letterhead from a
recognized news organization and a business card.

CONTACT: Jennifer Corrigan, +1-732-382-8898, +1-732-742-7148 (cell), or
Meredith Jarblum, +1-212-886-2226, both of the National Foundation for
Infectious Diseases.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - Jan. 22/
SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases