According to the U.S. government, adults who skip their immunizations for a number of ailments including whooping cough and influenza are creating a health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 2.1% of adults aged 18 to 64 are immunized against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, even though since 2006 there has been a combination vaccine that can protect against all three. (Source: WSJ)

The result could be a national push to get doctors to check immunization charts of their adult patients in much the same way they would for those under 18.

ATLANTA - A federal advisory panel on Thursday endorsed two new combination vaccines designed to reduce the number of needle sticks that young children must endure to get the recommended immunizations.

The panel gave its nod to a four-in-one shot made by GlaxoSmithKline. It offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio and costs $45. It's given once to preschool-aged children.

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