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July 02, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Vaccination Graduates to an Older Crowd"

New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (07/01/03) P. F1; McNeil, Donald G.

The use of vaccines to prevent diseases in infants has long been an accepted tool for U.S. parents, but they may soon face another slew of immunizations for their children--this time, in the teenage years.  Drug companies are working hard to develop vaccines for the prevention of a number of diseases that strike at older children or young adults, such as illnesses that are transmitted sexually, while traveling, or from living in close quarters such as dormitories or barracks.  Experts believe that by 2012, vaccines will exist for the prevention of genital herpes, at least in women; papillomaviruses, which can cause cervical cancer; cytomegalovirus, which can kill fetuses if contracted by pregnant women; meningitis B, a rare but dangerous disease most associated with close living; whooping cough in adults; and bacteria contracted while traveling or in hospitals. No other country routinely immunizes adolescents, but periodic drives in the United Kingdom and France during outbreaks of disease have been very effective, experts say.