Vaccinations aren't just for kids: Report focuses on benefits of adult immunizations

"Because 40,000 adults in the US die each year of vaccine-preventable diseases, it is important for adults to be aware of the options available to them for vaccination" says Dr. Nicola Klein of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center, a steering committee member for the report.

The report is based on a colloquium convened by the Academy in late 2011, which brought together 18 of the nation's leading experts to consider and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about vaccines for adults. It provides non-technical, science-based answers to questions that people may have regarding immunization.

Some of the questions the report considers include:

• What are vaccines and how do they work?
• Why do adults need to be vaccinated?
• How can getting vaccinated as an adult help protect my children? Or elderly parents?
• Are vaccines safe – and how do we know this?

FAQ: Adult Vaccines – A Grown Up Thing to Do is the latest offering in a series of reports designed to provide a rapid response to emerging issues. The FAQ series are based on single-day meetings focused on specific questions and reports are issued quickly - within 2-3 months. Previous FAQ reports have covered topics like the role of microorganisms in cleaning up oil spills and the multifaceted bacterium E. coli.

"The Academy FAQ reports explain complex microbiological problems in a timely, balanced format that is easily understandable by the public, the media and policy makers," says Stanley Maloy of San Diego State University.

Provided by American Society for Microbiology