Not only infants and children who need immunizations. Adults as well, although their immune system has been formed. Only, the public's understanding of the benefits of immunization for adults apparently still low.
Every year, tens of thousands of adults die and hundreds of thousands of others were hospitalized due to diseases preventable by vaccination. Thus, it is not appropriate if your immune system fully formed adult, so no longer need the vaccination.
"Precisely adults need vaccinations to avoid dangerous and contagious diseases," says Prof. Dr. Dr. Samsuridjal Djauzi Sp.PD, K-AL, FACP, FINASIM PAPDI and Chairman of the Task Force on Adult Immunization, through information conveyed Family Doctors Association of Indonesia (PDKI ).
Some adult diseases that are preventable by immunization of them, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, tetanus, MMR, typhoid, influenza, pneumococcal, meningococcal, and cervical cancer or cervical. "The benefits of this munisasi of course, boost immunity, reduce treatment costs, and improve productivity," he said.
Samsuridjal added, high immunization coverage will also reduce the frequency of the disease (herd immunity). This is why it needs to be improved immunization coverage for adults.
"You need to know, medical expenses incurred if the disease will be more expensive when compared to the cost of immunization," he said. "This is where the importance of preventive health promotion, one of which can be done by the Family Doctor."
Dr MM Basuki Gunawan, Chairman of West Java branch PDKI states, Family Doctor is a general practice doctor primary care providers who provide professional services, a comprehensive, holistic approach to sustainable, coordinated, and collaborative, with consideration of family, community and patient environment.
Family physicians also contribute to the prevention of chronic disease, and limit disability through risk assessment or a family health history, health education, early detection of disease, preventive medicine and behavior change.
"The benefits are clearly perceived by patients with a family doctor is a complete health data and neat so that disease prevention and treatment recommendations according to patient's condition," he said.
Furthermore, Dr Gunawan explains, Family Doctor served to increase the family's health. This is possible because family doctors are actively come to the patient of responsibility, both in sickness and health. In fact, it should keep the patient in order to stay healthy and avoid disease through immunization recommendations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
"Passing over information about adult immunization is also part of the concept of Family Physicians of service in Indonesia."
