Vaccines are dead or weak infectious bacteria that are introduced into your body usually via injection, sometimes via oral drops or nasal sprays. They encourage your immune system to produce antibodies that can fight stronger versions of the same infections.
Vaccines can offer good protection to older adults with weak immunity, or who are already dealing with one or more chronic illness. Staying up to date with your vaccinations also reduces your risk of hospitalization.
Here are the 5 important vaccinations for older adults looking to live their best lives.
- Flu vaccine
Influenza viruses circulate year-round, but are more prevalent during fall and winter. Some symptoms of the flu are fever, coughs, runny nose, head and body aches, and overall fatigue.
Anyone can catch the flu, and most people recover within a couple of weeks. But older adults, quite likely dealing with one more chronic illness, might have a harder time getting back on their feet. In fact, it is estimated that 70-90% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older.
At this time, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend any one of three higher-dose vaccines formulated specifically for senior adults. These contain more antigen, or the substance that stimulates your immune system into producing antibodies against the infection.
Experts recommend that senior adults should get their flu vaccinations by the end of October each year, so that patients can remain protected longer into the flu season.
- Pneumococcal vaccine
Pneumococcal diseases are infections like strep throat, pneumonia, and meningitis, which is a deadly infection in the brain. Like the flu, pneumococcal diseases are contagious, able to spread from person to person via coughs, sneezes, and close contact.
Adults aged 65 and above are at a higher risk of developing a pneumococcal infection. If you have an illness like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you are nearly 8 times more likely to get pneumonia.
Immunizations for older adults usually comprise two dosages of the pneumococcal vaccine, spaced a year apart. The kind of vaccine you will be given depends on factors such as whether you’ve been immunized before or not, and if you were, how long ago. The two dosages of vaccine will last for the rest of your life.
- Shingles vaccine
Shingles is an infection that shows up as a wide strip or long patch of painful, bubbly blisters. It most often appears on the side of your torso, although the side of the forehead or across one eye are also frequent locations.
The shingles rash is caused by the chickenpox virus, which can remain dormant in the body for years after you have recovered from the illness. If the virus is re-activated — common activators are stress, old age, cancer treatments — it shows up as shingles.
Among senior adults, 5 out of every 10 patients recovering from shingles will develop post-herpetic neuralgia. This is a burning pain in the nerves and skin, as a result of damage to the nervous system.
The CDC advises two dosages of the shingles vaccine for people aged 50 and above. As shingles can recur multiple times, you should get the vaccine even if you have already suffered through an episode.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine
Commonly known as Tdap or Td, this is a combined vaccine for all three illnesses.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can inflame the nose, throat, and windpipe, preventing you from breathing or swallowing. If the toxin gets into your blood, it can spread and damage other organs.
You can catch tetanus, also known as lockjaw, from bacterial spores entering your bloodstream through a cut, scratch, or even a splinter. The bacteria live in soil, dust, and animal waste. Some people worry about getting tetanus from stepping on a rusty nail, but it’s not the rust so much as the dirt entering the wound that is dangerous.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is highly contagious. It can last for weeks, and makes breathing extremely difficult. Among older adults, the coughing can be severe enough to fracture ribs.
The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis combination vaccine provides immunity for up to 10 years.
- RSV vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a highly contagious, airborne illness. It has seasonal outbreaks, often showing up in fall and lasting through winter. It is quite a deadly disease as well, responsible for the deaths of around 6,000 to 10,000 senior adults each year.
The illness has symptoms similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose, sore throat, coughs, and headaches. In immunocompromised older adults, RSV can overwhelm the lungs, causing wheezing and shortness of breath. It can also intensify pre-existing COPD or asthma.
At the moment, there are 3 RSV vaccines for senior adults. The CDC recommends immunization for at-risk seniors aged 60-75 having chronic health conditions, and for all adults aged 75 and above. The vaccine is given in a single dose which may protect most recipients for up to 2 years.
Getting vaccinated
Your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a great time to speak to your doctor about updating your immunizations.
Most vaccines are covered by either Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D. However, if you’re not entirely sure, or if you need help with costs, you can reach out to our Patient Relations Team at 800-941-1106 for information and guidance.