What Vaccines Are Recommended for Seniors?

August is National Immunization Awareness Month! August is the perfect time for vaccine awareness. Kids need their back-to-school immunizations, and everyone needs their annual flu shots. Vaccinations don't end with influenza, though. As we get older, we become susceptible to more illnesses that we can immunize against. Consult with your doctor to see if these vaccines are right for you.

Annual Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccinations

Unfortunately, humanity hasn't eradicated influenza or COVID-19 (yet)! Those annual pokes are still necessary. The viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19 mutate, so new vaccines are released yearly to combat them.

Many brush off these annual immunizations, but they shouldn't be passed on. It's true that for most, the flu or a bout of COVID means a few days in bed. However, for some, the viruses can spread to the lungs, resulting in deadly pneumonia. With age, the risk of complications increases.

For those over 65, there are higher-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines. The adjuvanted version includes MF59, an ingredient that strengthens the immune response. The CDC recommends these for older seniors. Ask your healthcare provider if a special flu vaccine is right for you.

RSV

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, is an infection often associated with infants. It's risky for seniors as well. For older children and healthy adults, it causes mild cold-like symptoms. For infants and the elderly, it can cause a severe lung issue that can lead to hospitalization. In some cases, the ensuing pneumonia or bronchitis can be fatal.

RSV season has the same timeline as the common cold and influenza. Often, people think they have a common cold until it becomes a medical emergency. It's also extremely contagious. By age two, the majority of children have caught it at least once. The vaccine protects young and old alike from the risk.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a condition where the air sacs in one or both lungs become inflamed and filled with fluid and pus. Breathing can become difficult and may require hospitalization for oxygen treatment.

Pneumonia doesn't have a single cause. In fact, it can come from almost anything, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Instead of pinpointing the cause, the vaccine helps prevent the escalation to pneumonia.

If you're over 50 years old, you'll want to get a vaccine against pneumonia. There are multiple pneumococcal immunizations. Pneumovax 23, or PPSV23, is usually recommended for older adults. It protects against 23 strains of bacteria that can cause pneumonia. Your doctor can help you decide which immunization is right for you.

Shingles

Remember the chicken pox? The spots and the itching? The childhood illness is one many of us suffered through, and no one is eager to experience it again. Unfortunately, if the virus is in your body, it can reactivate later in life as shingles.

In most cases, shingles feels worse than the original chicken pox infection. Shingles causes shooting pain and/or severe itching, along with blisters. Sometimes, the pain lasts long after the rash has disappeared.

The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 years and older. Anyone who's had chicken pox or its vaccine before should get the shingles vaccine. In fact, even people who have not had chicken pox should receive it as well.

Tdap

The Tdap vaccine covers three diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

• Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. It's found in soil and dust and enters the body through open wounds. It is recommended that healthy adults receive a tetanus booster every 10 years.

• Diphtheria comes from the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It's spread via airborne respiratory droplets. It affects the nose and throat. It can cause heart and nerve damage and has a fatality rate of up to 30%.

• Pertussis, known as whooping cough, is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It's highly contagious, and its cough can last months. Those most at risk from pertussis are infants.

  
  

Since 2012, the CDC has recommended that pregnant women and those in her circle receive Tdap vaccines. This helps protect the future newborn from infection, especially pertussis. If there are grandchildren or even great-grandchildren, the Tdap vaccination is highly recommended.

Check Titers!

Many childhood vaccines are considered lifelong protection. However, nothing is perfect, and some protections can decrease with age. With increasing outbreaks of infections like measles, it's worth asking your doctor for a titer check. A titer check is a blood test that measures your antibodies.

Despite receiving the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine as a child, some adults can lose immunity. A booster can remedy this deficit.

Conclusion

Please consult with your doctor or health team before opting for any vaccinations. Your personal medical history may make you ineligible for certain ones. Your physician will also know best which immunizations are best for you.

We don't stop vaccinating in old age. As we age, we may be more vulnerable to certain infections. Thanks to modern medicine, we can protect ourselves with vaccines. Give your immune system a fighting chance with recommended immunizations!