Lisa is joined by Yuan-Po Tu, MD who talks about the importance of receiving vaccinations, the risk in not being vaccinated, which age groups are most susceptible to which diseases and why it’s so important to receive vaccinations, especially during peak seasons (e.g., flu).
Recent Outbreak Statistics (according to the CDC)
2017-2018: high severity flu season with record breaking levels of influenza-like illness and hospitalization rates.
CDC reported 176 flu-related deaths in children through June 30th (highest number of flu-related deaths in children reported during a single flu season).
Approximately 80% of these deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination.
In 2014, The United States experienced 667 reported cases of measles in 27 states (greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000).
From January 1st to June 16th, 2018, 93 people from 19 states were reported to have measles.
Outbreaks of whooping cough can occur at middle and high schools as protection from childhood vaccines fades.
In 2016, there were 17,972 reported cases of whooping cough in the U.S., down from 2012’s 57-year high of 48,277 cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a report to address the common misconceptions about immunization, including some of the following inaccurate statements:
Diseases had already begun to disappear before vaccines were introduced, because of better hygiene and sanitation.
The majority of people who get diseases have been vaccinated.
There are “hot lots” of vaccines that have been associated with more adverse events and deaths than others.
Vaccines cause many harmful side effects, illnesses, and even death – not to mention possible long-term effects we don’t even know about.
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