The measles outbreak has brought much-needed attention to the importance of vaccines.
Next month, a CDC committee will meet in Atlanta to weigh whether to continue recommending another vaccine – this one for seniors.
In a new GHN Commentary, Dr. Linda Walden says jettisoning the current recommendation of a pneumococcal vaccine for Americans 65 and older could lead to decreased immunizations.
“As a health care provider, I am stumped as to why the CDC would consider such a decision,’’ she writes. “As a family physician, I have no doubt that it’s crucial for seniors 65 years of age and over to have pneumococcal vaccines, which help prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and other illnesses such as meningitis.’’