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Vaccines are estimated to prevent 2.5 million deaths per year. They are the first line of defense in preventing and slowing the spread of contagious illnesses.¹

You probably remember going to the doctor and receiving various immunizations throughout your childhood. However, as you age, some childhood vaccines can wear off over time because the protection they provide can weaken or fade.

A few reasons why it is important for adults, especially seniors, to check their vaccinations are:²

• Your immune system can change
• Immunity may have faded on some of your vaccines
• New vaccines are now available
• Age can make you more susceptible to certain illnesses

Here is a list of 5 essential immunizations for older adults that everyone should consider receiving.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that people over the age of 12, but especially adults age 65 and older, receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Older adults are more susceptible to severe illness from COVID-19.³

The COVID-19 vaccine protects you by helping your body to create a protein called an antibody that can fight the coronavirus. Once vaccinated, if COVID-19 enters the body, the antibodies helps your immune systems to quickly fight COVID-19 and prevent you from getting sick.⁴

The COVID-19 vaccines are free in the United States and they are widely available. You have the option of receiving a two-dose vaccine (such as Pfizer or Moderna) or one-dose (Johnson & Johnson). It takes up to two weeks after the completion of the vaccination sequence to build proper immunity from COVID-19.

Flu Shot

Experts recommend that everyone receives a seasonal flu shot each year. Flu season starts around the fall and lasts throughout the winter in the United States.

The flu is contagious and spreads by water droplets from coughing, sneezing, and talking. The flu virus can also live on surfaces and can be picked up if you touch something that has it.⁵

Adults age 65 and older are more at risk for complications from the flu because their immune system is not as strong. It is estimated that 70-85% of severe illnesses from the flu occur in this age bracket, as well as most of the hospitalizations.⁶

One benefit of getting a flu shot is that it has the ability to fight multiple strains. On average, the flu shot can reduce the chance of infection by 40-60%, which can protect you from becoming ill.⁷

TDAP

Another important immunization for older adults to get is the TDAP vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, a respiratory virus. This vaccine also protects against tetanus, which causes muscle and jaw pain. Usually, this vaccine is given to people when they are children, but if someone does not have it in adulthood, they can become severely ill. Immunity from the TDAP vaccine can also fade as you age, and there are booster shots available for people who need them.

Whooping cough starts out as a runny nose, eventually progressing to severe coughing that can cause someone to have trouble breathing. In serious cases, whooping cough can cause pneumonia, seizures, permanent brain damage, and death.⁸

Another reason you should consider receiving the TDAP vaccine is because whooping cough can be spread throughout a community easily. It usually spreads when you come into contact with the virus through coughing, sneezing, or touching an object.⁹ Having a boost of immunity can be the first line of defense if you come in contact with the virus.

Shingles

Another vaccine you should consider receiving as you age is the shingles vaccine. The reason for this is the chicken pox virus can remain dormant in your body, whether you remember having it or not, and it can cause long-term complications if it reactivates as shingles. According to the CDC, 99% of Americans age 40 and older have had the chicken pox.¹⁰

While shingles usually isn’t life-threatening, it can still cause pain, rashes, and blisters on the body. More serious cases can cause eye infections that can create vision loss or neurological problems that can progress to paralysis or balance issues.¹¹

The Shingrix vaccine is currently approved for people to use who are aged 50 and older, and the Zostavax vaccine is approved for those 60 and older. Receiving the shingles vaccine or booster can help protect you against shingles and the long-term complications that can come along with it.

Pneumococcal Vaccines

Pneumococcal vaccines are important to preventing infections from the bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can later develop into other medical conditions. Some of these include pneumonia, bacterial infections, and sinus infections, many of which can be harmful or fatal to seniors.¹²

There are also 400,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. annually from pneumococcal pneumonia because this bacteria is easily spread through droplets in the air that can get into the respiratory system. One reason it is important to receive pneumococcal vaccines is because pneumococcal bacteria can cause meningitis, which is estimated to have a 60% fatality rate on adults.¹³ Many individuals who get meningitis usually have permanent neurological damage.

There are two vaccines that can protect against pneumococcal diseases: PCV13 and PPSV23. People who are age 65 and older should consider receiving these vaccines.¹⁴

Consider Your Vaccinations

As you age, it’s important to be aware of your vaccinations in order to keep your body protected from viruses and bacteria that can cause long-term damage. For more information on any of these vaccines or to find out if they are right for you, consult with a doctor.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

1. “11 Facts About Vaccines.” Dosomething.org. Accessed August 3^rd, 2021. Link: https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-vaccines
2. “Senior Immunizations.” John Muir Health. Accessed August 3^rd, 2021. Link: https://www.johnmuirhealth.com/health-education/health-wellness/Immunizations/senior-immunizations.html
3. “COVID-19 Vaccines for Older Adults.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last updated May 25^th, 2021. Accessed August 3^rd, 2021. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/older-adults.html
4. Kathleen Cameron and Jeremiah McCoy. “COVID Vaccines: What Seniors Need to Know.” National Council on Aging. March 7^th, 2021. Accessed August 3^rd, 2021. Link: https://www.ncoa.org/article/covid-vaccines-what-seniors-need-to-know
5. “Why You Should Get Your Flu Shot.” Saber Healthcare Group. October 9^th, 2020. Accessed August 3^rd, 2021. Link: https://www.saberhealth.com/news/blog/why-you-should-get-the-flu-shot
6. “Flu & People 65 Years and Older.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last Updated May 6^th, 2021. Accessed August 3^rd, 2021. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/65over.htm
7. Mastroianni, Bryan. “The Flu Shot Can’t Infect You and Other Flu Facts.” Red Ventures, Healthline Media. October 16^th, 2019. Accessed August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/which-flu-vaccine-should-you-get
8. “Frequently Asked Questions about Whopping Cough.” Washington State Department of Health. Accessed August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/WhoopingCough/WhoopingCoughFAQ
9. “Whooping Cough is Deadly for Babies.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed June 29^th, 2017. Accessed August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/deadly-disease-for-baby.html
10. “Shingles Vaccination.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed January 25^th, 2018. Accessed August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html
11. “Shingles.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. October 6^th, 2020. Accessed August 8^th, 2021. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054
12. “Types of Infection.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 1^st, 2020. August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/infection-types.html
13. “Pneumococcal Vaccines (PCV13 and PPSV23).” Immunization Action Coalition, immunize.org. Page Last updated October 22^nd, 2020. Accessed August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_pneumococcal_vaccines.asp
14. “Pneumococcal Vaccination.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed November 21^st, 2019. Accessed August 4^th, 2021. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/index.html