Many Adults said to be Overdue for Vaccinations

02/11/2010

For people who are hoping to stay healthy as they get older, a little preventive medicine can go a long way - especially when it comes to things like immunizations.

A recent report released by several healthcare nonprofits found that based on the millions of adults who fail to get their required immunizations, there are as many as 50,000 preventable deaths, far more illnesses that could have been avoided, and billions of dollars in additional medical costs.

People who do get seriously ill from not being immunized may also incur heavy out-of-pocket medical expenses and spend more on health insurance deductibles and other costs.

The coalition of nonprofits, which included the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health, estimates that 30 percent of adults aged 65 and over have not received a pneumonia vaccination. In general, a significant portion of the adult population was also likely to be behind on other important immunizations, such as tetanus and diphtheria.

One of the benefits of a health insurance policy is that it helps people maintain their regular medical checkups, and in turn, immunizations. By taking some basic steps to stay healthy, people can head off far more serious problems down the road.

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