Related News
Vaccine protects old folks from kids
Source: Agencies |
December 25, 2009, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HOLIDAY visits have become safer for American grandparents thanks to a childhood vaccine that has dramatically curbed infections spread by kids, a new study has found.
For years, serious bacterial infections spiked among older adults around Christmas and New Year's, presumably because of contact with germy children. However, only one such spike has occurred since 2000, when the vaccine, Prevnar, came on the market, researchers report.
The vaccine is advised for children under two. It fights common types of strep bacteria that cause illnesses ranging from mild ear infections to severe pneumonia and meningitis.
The vaccine has done "a terrific job of preventing transmission from children to adults not only around the holidays, but during other times of the year as well," said Dr Matthew Moore from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Moore was part of the new research, reported in a letter to the editor in yesterday's New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists studied illness patterns between 1995 and 2006. Infections surged among older adults every year during the holidays before the vaccine was available. Scientists suspected the increase came from contact with contagious kids during family gatherings. Women were most at risk, possibly because they were around kids more.
Infections, though, tapered off after the vaccine came out in 2000. The only exception was during the 2004-2005 holiday season; it's unclear why.
Many people carry the bacteria in their nose and throat without becoming sick.
For years, serious bacterial infections spiked among older adults around Christmas and New Year's, presumably because of contact with germy children. However, only one such spike has occurred since 2000, when the vaccine, Prevnar, came on the market, researchers report.
The vaccine is advised for children under two. It fights common types of strep bacteria that cause illnesses ranging from mild ear infections to severe pneumonia and meningitis.
The vaccine has done "a terrific job of preventing transmission from children to adults not only around the holidays, but during other times of the year as well," said Dr Matthew Moore from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Moore was part of the new research, reported in a letter to the editor in yesterday's New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists studied illness patterns between 1995 and 2006. Infections surged among older adults every year during the holidays before the vaccine was available. Scientists suspected the increase came from contact with contagious kids during family gatherings. Women were most at risk, possibly because they were around kids more.
Infections, though, tapered off after the vaccine came out in 2000. The only exception was during the 2004-2005 holiday season; it's unclear why.
Many people carry the bacteria in their nose and throat without becoming sick.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
