Resurgence of Common Vaccine: Preventable Diseases Encountered by the Practicing Otolaryngologist (AMW)
2021 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO Experience
Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) are diseases of viral or bacterial origin which can be prevented by vaccination. It is estimated that 2-3 million deaths/year are prevented by the practice of vaccination. Currently, 27 viral and bacterial diseases are considered vaccine-preventable by the World Health organization. Despite this, VPDs are still responsible for 1.5 million deaths/year. Overall, VPDs preferentially affect infants and children as well as those >65 years old. The most common and serious VPDs tracked by the World Health Organization include diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae serotype b infection, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever. VPD resurgence occurs for multiple reasons that include waning herd immunity, vaccine failure, anti-vaccination sentiment, distrust in vaccines and governmental programs, alternate vaccination schedules, childhood under-immunization/non-immunization, and failure of timely vaccine delivery. With increasing global transportation and travel, VPDs that were thought nearly eradicated or extinct within the US have begun to re-emerge, especially in under-immunized communities across the US. Since 1963 when the measles vaccine was first introduced within the US, VPDs have made a steady resurgence in the US that have primarily involved pertussis and measles. With measles, a vaccination rate approaching of the community is required to achieve passive herd immunity and prevent disease resurgence. With the increasing incidence of various VPDs in the US, many clinicians likely have no prior experience with the diagnosis or management of any VPDs within their own clinical practice. During this session, attendees will be able to review common VPDs within the US, vaccination practices that contribute to VPDs, standard vs. delayed vaccination schedules, and the clinical presentations, complications, and consequences of exposure to patients with VPDs that may be increasingly encountered by the practicing otolaryngologist.
Credits
CME:1.0, MOC:1.0