Whooping Cough Booster Shot Recommended for Adolescents and Adults

ATLANTA, GA, Nov 09 (MARKET WIRE) --
Many people may think of whooping cough as a disease of the past --
something eradicated generations ago. However, the number of cases
reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate
that whooping cough is still very much a public health concern; health
experts estimate that up to 600,000 cases occur each year in adults
alone. In Georgia, whooping cough cases are on the rise. According to the
Georgia Division of Public Health, the number of whooping cough cases in
the state in the first half of this year is more than double that of the
same time period last year.

To help protect against whooping cough, the CDC and the American Academy
of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommend that most adolescents and adults
get a single dose of the whooping cough vaccine, also called "Tdap"
vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). Tdap is a one-time
booster shot that is recommended for most adolescents and adults, if not
previously vaccinated. For adults, it is recommended to replace a single
dose of Td vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids) if they received
their last dose of Td more than 10 years earlier and they have not
previously received Tdap.

"It's important that adolescents and adults are vaccinated against
whooping cough to help boost immunity from this contagious disease," said
Brian K. Nadolne, MD, Family Medicine Department at Northside Hospital,
Nadolne Family Medicine and Preventive Care, Georgia. "Many adults and
adolescents may not know that there is a one-time booster shot that
offers protection against whooping cough."

The AAFP, with help from the Georgia chapter, has launched "Vaccination
Matters: Help Protect Families from Whooping Cough," a public health
initiative designed to help people understand the importance of whooping
cough vaccination for adolescents and adults.

A recent national survey revealed that more than three-quarters of adults
(76 percent) didn't know or didn't think that whooping cough remains
widespread in the United States. Many adults (61 percent) are not even
aware that there is a vaccine for whooping cough.

Whooping Cough Can Be Serious

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can have a significant impact on
a person's health if contracted. A highly contagious respiratory disease,
whooping cough can cause a persistent, hacking cough severe enough to
cause vomiting and even break ribs. The illness may last for up to three
months or more, and may lead to pneumonia, hospitalization and missed
work or school days.

People with whooping cough may not be aware they have it and can spread it
to others, including infants and children. Babies who have not received
all of their shots for whooping cough are especially vulnerable to
complications.

Vaccines Are Not Just For Babies and New Parents

Protection against whooping cough wears off approximately five to 10 years
after completion of childhood vaccination, leaving adolescents and adults
susceptible to whooping cough. In the survey, 72 percent of adults were
unsure or didn't know this was possible.

The survey found that most adults (73 percent) believed they were
up-to-date on their vaccinations. The CDC estimates that only 2.1 percent
of adults received a Tdap vaccine between 2005 and 2007. For adults, the
Tdap vaccine is recommended to replace a single dose of Td vaccine
(tetanus and diphtheria toxoids) if they received their last dose of Td
more than 10 years earlier and they have not previously received Tdap.

Family physicians can offer expert information on whooping cough
vaccination for adolescents and adults. The Georgia Academy of Family
Physicians encourages adults to talk to their physician about whooping
cough and the Tdap vaccine.

The "Vaccination Matters: Help Protect Families from Whooping Cough"
program is made possible through funding and support from GlaxoSmithKline.

Visit www.FamilyDoctor.org/VaccinationMatters for more information.

About Whooping Cough

Whooping cough starts off like the common cold, but the illness can get
worse. It is a highly contagious respiratory disease and may include
symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and severe coughing fits.
While more than 3,500 cases of whooping cough were reported in U.S. adults
ages 20 years and older in 2007, many more cases may go unreported. In
fact, health experts estimate that up to 600,000 cases occur in adults
each year.

About the Survey -- Abbreviated Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris
Interactive via the QuickQuery(SM) online omnibus service on behalf of the
American Academy of Family Physicians and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) from July
8 to 10, 2009 among 2,021 adults ages 18 and older. GSK funded and
provided editorial support for the survey. This online survey is not
based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical
sampling error can be calculated. A complete survey methodology,
including weighting variables can be made available upon request.

About the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 94,600 physicians and
medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely
to primary care. Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to
family physicians. That is 208 million office visits each year -- nearly
83 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family
physicians provide more care for America's underserved and rural
populations than any other medical specialty.

In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical
specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or
sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across
the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing,
personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To
learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about the
specialty of family medicine, please visit www.aafp.org. For more
information about health care, health conditions, and wellness, please
visit www.familydoctor.org.

About the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP)

The GAFP chapter, established in 1947, strives to promote the health of
the citizens of Georgia by advancing the specialty of Family Medicine
through education, advocacy and service to family physicians in the State
of Georgia.

Khristina Newman
Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
(404) 321-7445
knewman@gafp.org

Amy Burstyn
Cohn & Wolfe
(212) 537-8201
amy.burstyn@cohnwolfe.com

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