Department of Health Newsletter Template
Note to health department staff: This article can be copied onto your letterhead or used in the
current template with your department’s name and logo. There are placeholders in the text below
to fill in with information specific to your department. Suggested uses include posting the
newsletter to your website, including it in an email or existing e-newsletter, or printing it for
distribution. Please feel free to customize it as needed.
[INSERT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH NAME/LOGO OR COPY TO LETTERHEAD]
Millions of US Adults Needlessly at Risk of a Deadly Disease
Are You One of Them?
As adults, getting vaccinated is one of the most important and easiest things we can do
to protect our health—yet not enough of us do it. Vaccine-preventable diseases kill more
US adults each year than HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, or traffic accidents.
A vaccination you may not know about protects against a common infection called
pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease can come on very quickly and lead to
death in just a few days. In the US, pneumococcal pneumonia, meningitis, and
bloodstream infections kill tens of thousands each year, including 18,000 adults age 65
and older.
Some adults are more likely to get pneumococcal disease or have a more serious illness
from it. That includes everyone age 65 and older and adults age 19 to 64 with heart,
liver, or lung disease; diabetes; asthma; HIV/AIDs; and other conditions that affect the
immune system; smokers; and alcoholics.
If you fall into one of these categories, you should be vaccinated, even if you consider
yourself healthy. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID),
too many adults nationwide are unprotected from this infection.
“Vaccination is a critical part of staying healthy at any age,” said [INSERT LOCAL
SPOKESPERSON]. “To receive the best protection against pneumococcal and other
deadly diseases, it’s important for adults to contact their local health department or
personal healthcare professional to talk about which vaccines are right for them.”
Pneumococcal disease can be very serious and treatment may require hospitalization.
Some patients may need weeks or months to recover before returning to normal
activities. Getting vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect oneself.
To speak with us about which vaccines you need, please contact us at [INSERT PHONE
NUMBER/EMAIL].
This initiative is supported by unrestricted educational grants from Merck & Co., Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
NFID policies restrict funders from controlling program content.
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October 2014
Adults Need Vaccines to Stay Healthy Too.
Are You Up to Date?
Vaccine
Who Should Receive It?*
Influenza
All adults, every year, including pregnant women
Hepatitis B
Adults who might come in contact with the infection and those
with certain underlying health conditions, like diabetes
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
All women 19 to 26 and men 19 to 21 years old, as well as men
age 22 to 26 years with certain underlying health conditions, if not
previously immunized
Pneumococcal
Adults 65 and older
Adults of any age with certain health conditions
Shingles
Adults 60 and older
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)
booster
All adults who have never received it; pregnant women during
each pregnancy
*Check with your doctor or other healthcare provider if you believe you have a
contraindication to any vaccine.
For more information about adult vaccinations, visit adultvaccination.org
This initiative is supported by unrestricted educational grants from Merck & Co., Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
NFID policies restrict funders from controlling program content.
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October 2014