FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 27, 2005
Contact: Kerre Fisher, (907) 269-2042 or Sherry Hill, (907) 465-1618
Governor Proclaims 2005 as Year of the Booster
Tetanus/diphtheria booster shots needed every 10 years, other immunizations also need updating
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Anchorage, Alaska – Today Governor Frank H. Murkowski declared 2005 as the Year of the Booster in Alaska during a ceremony at Alaska Regional Hospital. Department of Health and Social Services Public Health Director Richard Mandsager, M.D., Alaska Regional Hospital CEO Ed Lamb, and Serum Run 25 President Norman Vaughan joined the Governor for the ceremony to promote adult immunization awareness, the need for tetanus/diphtheria booster shots every 10 years, and immunization updating for all Alaskans.
According to the proclamation, “ During a diphtheria outbreak in 1975 thousands of Alaskans received tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccine. To maintain protection from these diseases a booster dose of vaccine is required every 10 years. Booster campaigns have occurred every decade since 1975. This year, 2005, marks 10 years since the last booster campaign so many Alaskans will need to update their Td protection in 2005. Alaska adults should also check the status of all their immunizations to be sure they are protected against other vaccine-preventable diseases.”
“Many Alaskans remember when vaccine preventable diseases were commonplace, but because of increased use of vaccines we rarely see these diseases today. However, the bacteria and the viruses that cause these diseases are still in our environment and we must continue to vaccinate against them to keep our families safe and healthy,” said Murkowski.
The tetanus bacteria is found in items such as soil, dust, insects and animals. It usually enters the body through a break in the skin and then develops a toxin that affects the nervous system. If left untreated, tetanus can cause paralysis and death. Diphtheria is most commonly a respiratory illness and is contagious, spreading person-to-person. Diphtheria can also result in paralysis and death if untreated. Older adults have an increased risk of tetanus and diphtheria partly because many do not stay up-to-date with their booster shots. Although diphtheria disease is rare in the United States, it continues to appear in other parts of the world. For example, a large diphtheria outbreak occurred in the mid 1990’s in the former Soviet Union due to a lack of routine immunization of adults.
Alaska Public Health officials are also using the Year of the Booster proclamation to encourage everyone, adults and children, to review their immunization records and ensure that all immunizations are current.
“Children should get a majority of their childhood immunizations by age two. Adults should review their immunization records and the current immunization recommendations regularly with their health care provider,” said Public Health Director Richard Mandsager, M.D.
Alaskans should contact their health care provider or public health center for details of receiving a Td booster or other immunizations. They can also call the Alaska Immunization Hotline at 1-888-430-4321 (269-8088 in Anchorage) for more information about immunizations.
Additional online information about immunizations:
DPH Section of Epidemiology, Alaska Immunization Program
http://www.epi.alaska.gov/id/immune.stm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program
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For more information, please contact
Sherry Hill
Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Juneau Office: (907) 465-1618
Anchorage: (907) 269-7800
Cell: (907) 321-2838
Email: sherry_hill@health.state.ak.usJeff Kasper
Project Director
Juneau Office: (907) 465-8194
Email: jeff_kasper@health.state.ak.us
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