Profession

Tdap shots encouraged for health care workers

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 3, 2006

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Physicians and other health care professionals should be immunized against pertussis to reduce the chance of getting sick themselves and then passing the illness to patients, according to policy passed at the AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago last month.

"Pertussis is not just for kids. The CDC says that each year adults make up one-third of all pertussis cases that are reported," said Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, an internist from Atlanta, Ga., who spoke for the American College of Physicians.

The recommendation was part of a larger policy that encourages influenza vaccine for health care professionals, as well as both shots for patients who the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends receive it.

The ACIP recommends routine use of the combination tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine, Tdap, for those ages 11 to 18 and adults who have close contact with infants. Adults also should receive at least one Tdap booster.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/07/03/prbf0703.htm.

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