These diseases claim the lives of nearly 84,000 people each year - 90 percent of these deaths occur among individuals 65 years of age or older. The simple step of preventive immunization could prevent many of these deaths. In a related move, AMDA will ask its members to take part in the National Coalition for Adult Immunization's campaign, National Adult Immunization Awareness Week that will be held this year on October 10-16, 1999. In addition to AMDA, the campaign participants include the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, American Geriatrics Society, American Health Care Association, American Health Quality Association, Association of Professionals for Infection Control and Epidemiology, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long-Term Care, National Association for Home Care, and the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. The campaign is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Merck Vaccine Division.
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