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July 11, 2001

“Vaccine Experts Lay Out Guidelines for Adults”

Anchorage Daily News (www.adn.com) (07/10/01) P. D1; Potempa, Ann

Ken Browning of the Alaska Section of Epidemiology is encouraging adults to stay up-to-date on their vaccinations.  According to Browning, adults should check with their physicians to see if they need to be vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria; hepatitis A and B; influenza; pneumonia; measles, mumps, and rubella; polio; and varicella.  The cost of the vaccines varies, but adults will generally pay a higher price for their shots than they would for their children’s.  Beth Funk, a medical epidemiologist, explains: “We have funding from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] for childhood immunizations, but we don’t have the same resources for adults.”

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.