Vaccine Needs for Seniors

Many serious illnesses can be avoided by getting vaccinated. This is especially apparent for seniors whose immune systems tend to weaken as they age, making it harder to fight off infections. Seniors are also more likely to have chronic health conditions that contribute to their vulnerability. With vaccines being top of mind at the moment, this is a great time to access all the vaccine needs for seniors.

There are several proven and safe vaccines that provide protection for senior adults. Let’s look at what is recommended.

The Vaccines

COVID-19. These are the vaccines that are on just about everyone’s mind at the moment. As a senior adult, you are at a much higher risk for serious consequences from the coronavirus. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, your risk is even greater.

Influenza. Flu season begins in October. Most of the time, flu activity peaks between December and February and ends in March, although activity can last as late as May. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people of all ages receive a vaccination by the end of October. An annual vaccine is necessary because the virus changes from year to year.

Flu symptoms can become serious enough to warrant hospitalization, and can develop into deadly pneumonia. Studies have shown that the vaccine can reduce the risk of serious illness by as much as 40 to 60 percent.

Consult with your physician if you have had a severe reaction to past flu shots, have an egg allergy, or have had or have Guillain-Barre syndrome. Finally, if you have a fever when going in for your flu shot, you will be asked to wait until your fever is gone before receiving the vaccine.

Pneumococcal. Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by a specific bacteria that can result in pneumonia. The pneumococcal vaccines are very effective at preventing serious disease and hospitalization.

It is recommended that healthy adults 65 and older should receive two pneumococcal vaccines. The first is designated as PCV13. The second, to be taken one year later, is PPSV23. Those with heightened risk factors (smoking, chronic lung or heart disease, leukemia, lymphoma or alcoholism) should get a dose before 65, separated by eight weeks.

The CDC provides more information on pneumococcal disease.

Tdap. (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) A vaccine that came out in 2005 that added protection from pertussis (whooping cough).

According to the CDC, Pertussis is often underdiagnosed and underreported, and the vaccination of people age 65 and older is strongly recommended. You receive the vaccine only once and a booster every 10 years thereafter. Talk to your physician if you have epilepsy or other nervous system problems, have or have had Guillain-Barre syndrome, which would keep you from receiving this vaccine, or had severe pain and swelling from a previous dose.

Shingles. Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash, which usually appears as a single stripe of blisters, wrapping around either side of the torso.

It is caused by the same virus as the chickenpox, which can reside inactive in the body for years and then reactivate. It is not life-threatening, but it is extremely painful. For some people, the pain continues long after the blisters are gone.

Increased risk factors include being older than 50, having diseases that weaken the immune system, undergoing cancer treatments, taking certain medications to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, and a prolonged use of steroids, such as prednisone. One out of every three people will get shingles.

It is recommended that everyone over the age of 50 get the new shingles vaccine, Shingrix, in two doses spaced two to six months apart.

Some studies show that Shingrix may provide protection for five years or more. Talk with your physician to see if you have any conditions that may preclude you from receiving the vaccine.

Hepatitis A. This is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).It is spread through close personal contact with an infected person, and primarily by travel to another country, where viral transmission is more common. People with chronic or long-term liver disease are also susceptible. It also can be contracted by consuming contaminated food or water. Older adults are at a higher risk.

Symptoms include:

• Yellowing of the skin and eyes
• Nausea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Belly pain
• Dark urine

In some cases, hepatitis A can be fatal. However, people usually make a complete recovery from the disease.

Johns Hopkins Medicine provides more information on Hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B. Another serious liver disease is hepatitis B, which has many of the same symptoms as hepatitis A. The hepatitis B virus is passed from person to person through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids.

A hepatitis B (HBV) infection can be short-lived or long-lasting. A chronic infection lasting six months or longer may last a lifetime and lead to serious illnesses such as cirrhosis and is a leading cause of liver cancer.

Adults need three doses of the vaccine—the second dose four weeks after the first, the third dose five months after the second dose.

There is also a combination vaccine called Twinrix for both hepatitis A and B, which is given in three doses over six months.

Additional vaccines. The CDC also lists recommendations for older adults who run an increased risk for certain diseases due to certain health problems, occupations, or lifestyles. The CDC advises seniors to consult with their physician to discover if additional vaccines are needed.

Stay up to Date

Each year, thousands of people could have avoided serious illnesses by taking advantage of the vaccines available to them. Science has made great strides to eradicating or reducing diseases through vaccination programs. However, the viruses and bacteria that cause these illnesses are still out there. Stay up to date on your vaccines, and keep those illnesses out of your system.

Preventative health measures are always recommended to keep seniors healthy, especially for residents in independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. See our blog for more measures you can take.