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Although immunization rates for U.S. children have reached an all-time high, few adults are up-to-date on their vaccines, sparking concern among infectious disease experts and public health officials, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 70,000 adult Americans die annually from vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza, pneumonia and complications of hepatitis. However, federal data suggests that only 2.1 percent of adults ages 18 to 64 are immunized against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Commenting on the gap, public health officials cite the absence of a formal national system to promote and monitor adult vaccinations, as well as the lack of coordination between federal public health agencies, private medical providers and vaccine manufacturers. In addition, few adults are aware that their immunity from childhood vaccines may have waned or that they are more susceptible to various diseases as they age. To increase adherence to adult vaccine recommendations, Congress is considering legislation that would create a national vaccine program to provide free immunizations for uninsured and underinsured adults. The program also would streamline the administrative steps involved in covering the cost of vaccines for Medicare beneficiaries. To increase awareness about the importance of adult immunizations, the American Medical Association has issued 100,000 free booklets urging physicians to inquire about patients' immunizations and help patients understand vaccines and the diseases they prevent. In addition, the CDC Web site features a list of vaccination recommendations, which are updated annually to reflect emerging infectious disease threats. An associate director for the CDC's adult immunization services division notes that "it's far better to prevent these diseases than to have to treat them, and with the array of vaccines we have available, people ought to be taking better advantage." (Landro, Wall Street Journal, 7/9/08 [subscription required])