European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                 members of the military get a Battery of vaccinations when they first come into Hie service and other shots such As in Toenia As needed Trie thu shots which an mandatory for Trie military Are now being Given. Military gets a shot in the Arm Bylinda Howley he immunization needs of americans in the military and their dependents Are general Well Laken care of. I hink he military is better immunized than other populations said or. Col Michael Benenson preventive Medicine consultant at 7th medical come in Heidelberg. Soldiers gel a Battery of vaccinations when they first come in the service and their shot records Are periodically checked to see if they Are qualified Lor overseas  Benenson said. Dependent children follow an immunization schedule Given at the Well baby clinic and schools Are required to have an immunization program. There May be some concern Over spouses but their records Are reviewed when they go overseas and kept  smallpox whooping cough measles rubella meningitis influenza polio and Ade novits for respiratory diseases vaccines Are Given in Basic training if the Soldier has t already had them. Influenza shots Are essential for soldiers and the reason is readiness. If there was a bad flu season a Large number of people could be incapacitated at a critical  he said. See related Story. For example if there Are Only three on a might Crew and one is infected he whole flight can t go Kanenson said. The Llu can be transmitted easily among soldiers working closely together during exercises or in Basic training. Tetanus and diphtheria vaccines Are Given every 10 years typhoid every Iviree years in the Soldier is going overseas yellow Ever every 10 years Tor Alert forces and cholera is Given if the Host country requires in Benenson said. Rabies vaccines Are Given to veterinarians anyone who works with animals or in a country where there is a rabies problem. We started giving he Hep Tttus b vaccine to ail troops who Are going to be stationed in Korea he said. Civilians Only need their Basic childhood shots polio measles rubella tetanus diphtheria and pertussis unless they live or visit areas where sanitation and Hygiene Aren t Good then they May need typhoid plague hepatitis b and rabies vaccines Benenson recommends a pneumococcal vaccine for people with certain medical problems such As sickle cell anaemia chronic diseases and a removed spleen. He also recommends a her Ophilus influenza vaccine Lor children to prevent meningitis although it in t required in the United states or by the military Linda Howley is employed in the Public a lairs optic of the Darmstadt military Community. Off Leona of americans am susceptible to Dit ept  by Jane e. Brody new York times immunization programs arc typically directed toward children. Except or those who travel to countries that warrant vaccine Protection most adults consider shots and lollipops a thing of their past. However Federal he ail officials report that millions of adult americans remain needlessly susceptible to serious infectious diseases because they have nol received the appropriate vaccines. Surveys indicate that up to 60 percent of adults in the United states Are inadequately immunized. Health professionals themselves have failed for the most part to obtain the Protection they can and should have. The diseases in question Range irom the rare but deadly like diphtheria and Mclanus to the comparatively common like pneumonia and influenza which Afflic millions and claim Lens of thousands of lives each year. The Success of certain childhood immunization programs such As those for measles mumps and rubella has made matters worse or in vaccinated Young adults no longer Are people routinely exposed to such diseases in childhood so those who Are not immunized Are Likely to reach adulthood still susceptible. When these so called childhood illnesses occur in 1 adults hey can have severe effects. Ii a woman contracts rubella in particular during pregnancy her f unborn child can be seriously impaired other 5 preventable infections can increase her chances of suffering a miscarriage. J All adults then would be Wise to review their immunization status and it necessary bring it up to Dale. Few of us however have kept careful records of the vaccines we be received and we May be unsure of which illnesses we had a children. Especially confusing Are measles and rubella which used o be called German measles they Are actually very different diseases and immunity against both is important. If necessary you can be tested for immunity to specific diseases or you can be immunized again just to be sure. Except for the pneumonia vaccine a second dose is not considered harmful. F other actors have added to the confusion. For example some people received vaccines now known to i be inadequate these vaccines have been replaced. T other people need worry about Protection against s diseases like hepatitis b end rabies Only if they fall into Pago 14 the stars and stripes