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Immunity Boost

August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a natural time to protect against the upcoming fall and winter illness. Older adults are more susceptible to diseases because of a natural decline in the immune system. So, vaccinations play a critical role in the health and well-being of those over 60.

What is a vaccine?

For more than a century, vaccines have reduced disease and death. They’ve saved over 154 million lives worldwide over the past 50 years alone. A vaccine is a preparation that uses your body’s natural defenses to build resistance against specific infections. Typically, vaccines are given as a shot, although they can also be taken by mouth or sprayed into the nose.

Vaccines can reduce the possibility of serious outcomes (like death) and are safer than the disease itself. And vaccines are incredibly safe; most bad reactions to vaccines are minor and temporary, like soreness or mild fever. Most importantly, vaccines are protective. For example, the flu vaccination reduces risk by 40-60% for the overall population. But for those aged 50 and over, the benefits are even more pronounced–for example, vaccines can reduce flu-related hospitalizations by 61%.

Key Recommended Vaccines and Boosters

To age healthily, it’s important to stay up to date on your vaccines. Your primary care provider can best guide you, but here are the key immunizations most older adults need.

Influenza, or the flu, can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, especially in older adults. Seniors account for 70-85% of flu-related deaths. The CDC recommends an annual flu shot for everyone aged 65 and older.

Pneumococcal diseases can spread from person to person, causing diverse kinds of health problems like pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. Older adults can quickly develop severe, potentially fatal complications.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus and causes a painful rash anywhere on the body. About 1 in 3 people suffer the severe pain and complications of this disease. The shingles vaccine, which is given over two shots, is recommended for adults over 50.

Tdap is short for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Tetanus and diphtheria can be particularly severe for seniors. Older adults should get the available booster every 10 years.

COVID-19 continues to pose a significant risk to Americans aged 65 or older, who make up 92% of all deaths from the virus. mRNA vaccines require two shots while a booster is only one shot; inoculation recommendations rely on the person’s own vaccination history and can be explained by a doctor or pharmacist.

Vaccines are not just a health measure, but a critical step toward ensuring a longer, healthier life. Preventive healthcare, like vaccinations, can keep not only you but also your loved ones safe. So, stay informed, stay protected, and let’s promote a healthier future together.