Vaccine Recommendations for Older Adults - Lots of Benefits and Minimal Risk for Most People

Vaccine recommendations for older adults can be confusing. However, there is more and more evidence that keeping up with appropriate vaccinations can provide a number of long-term health benefits and some vaccines may even help reduce your risk of dementia. Here’s what adults 55+ need to know to stay protected and make informed decisions.

Congratulations. You have made it to your 50s, 60s, or beyond and you’re probably doing a solid job of staying on top of your health. But when it comes to vaccines, a lot of adults in this age group aren’t sure what they actually need anymore. Are their childhood vaccines enough? Do boosters reset everything? It is not always clear, and the recommendations have changed over the years. Here is a short and helpful guide to vaccine recommendations for older adults.  

As always, check with your personal physician before getting any medication, including vaccines, especially if you have had a bad reaction in the past.  Simply having a sore arm the next day, feeling tired, or having a low grade fever are not serious reactions, unless they last more than a couple of days.  Developing hives, a high fever, or becoming seriously ill should be reported to your doctor.

Yes, You Still Need Vaccines

Your immune system does not work the same way at 65 as it did at 25. It becomes less efficient at recognizing and fighting off new threats, which is why certain infections hit harder as you get older. It is also why vaccination is even more important the older you get.  Many people over the age of 65 are still dying every year from common illnesses such as the flu and covid, and the majority of those deaths are in the unvaccinated.  

The Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine gets updated every year because the virus changes every year. Adults 65 and older are eligible for high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines, which are specifically designed to produce a stronger immune response in older immune systems. And yes, you need it every single year. You can protect against the deadly flu virus with this one annual step, and it’s widely available at pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and community health clinics.  

Some people complain that they have gotten the flu after having the flu vaccine.  This is true, especially during the first two weeks after receiving the vaccine, since it is not fully in effect.  It can also happen after five or six months, because its protection has started to wane.  In addition, sometimes the flu vaccine is not a perfect match for the type of flu which is circulating.  However, even in these cases, your case of the flu is less likely to become fatal, if you have been vaccinated.

COVID-19 Boosters

COVID-19 vaccines and updated boosters remain important for older adults. Your doctor can tell you which version you have received and whether you are due for an updated dose. The CDC updates its recommendations as new variants emerge, so stay in contact with your healthcare provider.  Covid has evolved a number of times since it first emerged, and the vaccine is updated every year to match the type that is circulating.  While most Americans have now been vaccinated at least once, it is important to continue to get annual vaccines to protect yourself from new variations.

RSV Vaccine

RSV is the shortened name for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.  It causes serious infections of the lungs and respiratory system.  While it is a mild and common infection in most adults, it can be serious in young children and the elderly.  Ask your physician if they recommend you receive the RSV vaccine.

The Shingles Vaccine

Shingrix, the shingles vaccine, is recommended for adults 50 and older. It’s given in two doses spread two to six months apart. Shingles is a painful reactivation of the chickenpox virus that never fully leaves your body, and the vaccine is over 90 percent effective at preventing it.  Trust me. Shingles is painful and not something you want to risk getting.

Vaccinations and Dementia

The whole body inflammation that occurs when someone experiences Shingles is so intense that it increases your risk of later developing dementia.  As a result, getting vaccinated against Shingles and other highly inflammatory diseases such as the flu may reduce your risk of later getting dementia.  I cannot think of a better reason to see your doctor at least annually and keep up with your scheduled vaccines than the fact that some vaccines are associated with a lower dementia risk in later life, because they have reduced the total amount of time you have spent having highly inflammatory illnesses.

The Pneumonia Vaccines

The pneumococcal vaccines, which protect against bacterial pneumonia, are also recommended for adults 65 and older. Your doctor will help you figure out which version you need based on what you have already received. Of course, you may still get viral pneumonia, so it doesn't protect you against all causes of pneumonia, but at least you will be protected from bacterial pneumonia. This is important because pneumonia is a common cause of death in the elderly.

Other Common Vaccines Your Doctor May Suggest

Depending on your activities and family situation, your doctor may also suggest other vaccinations that need to be updated, such as your tetanus vaccine, the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), or the pertussis vaccine, especially if there is a new grandchild in the family and you want to protect them from whooping cough and other diseases.  

If you will be traveling to other countries, you may also need to get vaccinated against some tropical diseases which are rare in the U.S., but common in other places.  Personally, I have been vaccinated against a wide variety of tropical diseases because of trips I have taken to places like Fiji and Central America. Check with your doctor to see what they recommend.  They may refer you to a tropical disease specialist.  Give them the list of places you plan to visit, and they will match it against their list of common diseases which are spreading in those countries. Then, they can give you the appropriate vaccines. Nothing can ruin a vacation faster than becoming ill with a preventable illness.

Scientists are also actively studying other types of vaccines against diseases which can harm humans, so be open to new vaccines which may become available in the future. They could save your life.

Common Concerns Older Adults Have About Vaccines

A lot of older people have questions about vaccines which they may feel awkward bringing up. Let’s address some big ones to put your mind at ease.

Do Vaccines Mix With Medications?

One of the most common questions is whether vaccines are safe when you are already managing other health conditions or taking multiple medications. In most cases, the answer is yes, they are safe, but your doctor reviews your full health picture before making any recommendation.

Will the Side Effects Be Worse Because of Your Age?

In general, age does not determine how intense vaccination side effects will be. Soreness, mild fatigue, and a low-grade fever are normal responses that show your immune system is responding. Those side effects are not dangerous, and they typically pass within a day or two.

In some rare cases, you may have a serious auto-immune disease, an infection, or may be getting treatments for another disease and, as a result, you are not eligible to receive vaccinations at that time. Discuss this with your doctors and be sure to take other precautions, such as wearing a face mask, to help you avoid exposure to any other serious illnesses.  If you are being treated for cancer, for example, you do not want to be fighting Covid or the flu at the same time. Listen to your doctor and follow their recommendations so you stay as healthy as possible.

Are Today’s Vaccines Safe?

The world has changed a lot, including in its pharmaceutical standards. Fortunately, vaccine changes in the last few decades have been for the better. Reputable clinics and pharmacies follow strict protocols at every step of the process. For instance, continuous temperature monitoring is important for vaccines, and reputable providers make sure nothing falls outside safe ranges from the moment a vaccine shipment arrives to the moment it is administered. Staff are also trained to check expiration dates, inspect vials, and follow proper injection techniques. Rest assured, if you receive your vaccine from a trustworthy source, you are in good hands.

How To Know What Vaccines You Need

The best starting point is a conversation with your primary care doctor. Bring any vaccine records you have, or ask your pharmacy to pull your history. The CDC also maintains an adult immunization schedule you can reference online. Moreover, your pharmacist is a reliable resource and can administer many of these vaccines without a separate doctor’s visit.

Staying Current Without the Confusion

We hope this guide to vaccine recommendations for older adults has been helpful. Now, it is time to ask your doctor to review your records at your next appointment. Do not wait for a health scare before you try to get caught up with your vaccinations. As always, check with your personal physician before making any healthcare decisions.

Post and Photo credit: Logical Positions

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Vaccines for Senior Citizens - Which Ones Do You Need?

While the world waits for a successful vaccine to help us fight the Covid-19 coronavirus, it is important that we make sure we are taking advantage of other vaccines which have been proven to help us age better, with fewer unnecessary diseases.  We currently have access to a number of important vaccines which can protect us from a variety of serious illnesses.  You may want to talk to your physician to find out which vaccines would be right for you.

Vaccines Can Protect Your Family

When our daughter became pregnant a few years ago, her pediatrician told her that all the adults in the family, including grandparents, should get a Tdap booster shot before handling the baby, to protect the infant from whooping cough. There was a good reason for the pediatrician's concern. More than 48,000 people in the U.S. developed whooping cough in 2012.  That was the highest number of cases since 1955.  The disease can last ten weeks or more, and is highly contagious. It can be serious for anyone, but is potentially fatal for infants. It is important that everyone who will be handling a baby has an up-to-date whooping cough vaccine.  The one you had as a child may no longer give you immunity.

If you are uncertain how vaccines can protect you and your grandchildren, you may want to read the handy book, "Your Baby's Best Shot: Why Vaccines are Safe and Save Lives."  The information in this book about vaccines for infants will pertain to adults as well, especially if they may have missed some childhood vaccines, and the book is very reassuring about the benefits and safety of vaccines. (Ad)

In addition to getting vaccinated to protect our grandchildren and other family members, there are a number of vaccinations which are recommended for senior citizens in order to protect their own health, and reduce their risk of an unnecessary and untimely death.  According to an article in the September, 2019 issue of AARP Bulletin, "The Vaccines You Need," below is a list of the vaccines which every senior citizen should discuss with their physician and receive, if their doctor deems them appropriate.

Vaccinations for Older Americans

Flu Shot - Every year the strains of influenza which are traveling around the globe change, and we need a new shot to protect ourselves.  Approximately 36,400 to 61,200 people in the United States die from the flu each year, and the majority of the deaths are in people over the age of 65.  Getting a flu shot can protect you and, if you get the flu despite having the shot, the symptoms are likely to be milder.  In addition, Medicare will cover the full cost of the shot, so seniors have no out-of-pocket expense. If you protect yourself from influenza, it will be one less thing to worry about, especially while we wait for a Covid-19 vaccine, since the initial symptoms of the two diseases can be similar.

Shingles - If you have ever known someone who developed shingles, you know how miserable it made them.  Shingles is actually caused by the chicken pox virus, so if you had chicken pox as a child, you will definitely want to get vaccinated against shingles. The newest vaccine is called Shingrix and can result in some mild side effects such as fever, chills or muscle pain.  It also requires two shots which are given several months apart.  However, it works better than the older vaccine, called Zostravax.  You should get Shingrix, even if you had the Zostavax vaccine, as long as the Zostavax vaccine was given to you more than eight weeks ago.

Chicken Pox - If you have never had chicken pox, you may assume you have nothing to worry about by the time to reach your 60s.  However, this is the time you need to be more careful than ever about catching any "childhood diseases."  These diseases are more dangerous than ever as you age.  Even if you are never around someone with chicken pox, you could still be exposed by someone with shingles.  If you want to know whether or not you have ever had chicken pox, to help you decide whether you should get the shingles shot or the chicken pox vaccine, your doctor can perform a blood test to determine if you have had an immune response to chicken pox.  If you are unsure, it is worth getting the test.  My husband always swore he had never had the chicken pox.  However, when he was tested, they found chicken pox antibodies in his blood. He must have had a mild case when he was young, and didn't realize that he had it.  After discovering that he had, indeed, had chicken pox as a child, his physician gave him the shingles vaccine.

Pneumonia - As you age, your risk of dying from pneumonia increases.  There are two different vaccines, PCV13 and PCSV23. They both protect against different strains of the bacteria which cause pneumonia and other illnesses, but PCV13 targets strains which are now less common. The CDC recommends the PCSV23 for anyone age 65 and older.  If you have any serious chronic health conditions such as kidney failure, heart disease, liver disease or HIV, it is especially important you get vaccinated against pneumonia as early as possible.  Remember, this shot only protects you against bacterial pneumonia. It is still possible for you to get viral pneumonia, so see if a doctor if you develop a serious respiratory illness.

MMR or Measles, Mumps and Rubella - You may already be protected against these illnesses if you were born before 1957, simply because you probably already had these diseases and now have antibodies against them.  You may also be protected if you got vaccinated after 1957, but not during the years between 1963 and 1967, when the vaccine used at that time was ineffective.  Confused or uncertain about whether you are protected?  It will not hurt to get vaccinated again. Over the past few years, there have been a number of cases of measles in the U.S. You do not want to risk being exposed to something like the measles or mumps if you are also suffering from another chronic condition.

Tdap or Tetanus, Pertussis and Diphtheria - When my physician discovered that I was regularly horseback riding and spending time in an old barn, she immediately gave me a Tdap shot to boost my tetanus protection.  Everyone needs to have a booster every ten years, but many people stop bothering as they age. For me, there was a second advantage to getting a Tdap booster. It also protected me against pertussis, or whooping cough, just at the time my daughter's pediatrician insisted all the relatives be inoculated.

Hepatitis A and B - You may have already been vaccinated against hepatitis, but it is worthwhile to confirm that fact with your doctor.  In addition, you should get tested for Hep C, too.  Hepatitis A is a very contagious viral liver infection which causes abdominal pain and jaundice; it is often spread through contaminated food.  Hepatitis B is a separate illness which is usually spread through sexual contact.  The combination Hep A and B vaccine can protect you from both. Hep C is common in Baby Boomers, but there is no vaccine available, yet.  Should one become available, you should discuss with your doctor whether you should get it.

I want to assure my readers that I have taken my own advice and had all the above inoculations.  I have gotten the flu shot annually for decades.  I have had both variations of shingles shots, and both types of pneumonia vaccines.  When my Tdap inoculation expires, I will get another booster.  The worst side effect I ever had was a sore arm for a couple of days and occasional tiredness after an inoculation. In particular, I felt tired for a few days after getting my second Shingrix inoculation, but not after the first one. However, if you have a chronic illness or had side effects in the past, you should discuss any potential side effects with your doctor. Your personal physician knows your medical condition the best and can help you weigh the pros and cons of any recommended vaccinations.

If you are interested in learning more about common medical issues as we age, Medicare, Social Security, financial planning, where to retire and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission to support this blog, at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

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