Introduction:
Vaccines are not just a childhood pastime. They play an essential role in protecting every phase of life. They become significant during old age, and risks to particular diseases climb higher. For elderly individuals, assisted living, or those in larger, populated care settings, vaccination is essential as the exposure risk to communicable diseases like pneumonia and flu is higher. Certain vaccines prove safe and effective in preventing several diseases that can have severe implications for older populations.
What Is a Vaccine?
Vaccines are an essential step in protecting the overall health of an individual. They reduce the risk of getting a disease by working with the body’s natural defenses to build protection. On administration of a vaccine, the body’s immune system starts responding. Vaccines are necessary for older adults. Risks of certain diseases are higher than age group, and it can be more challenging to fight off infections, and the immune system naturally weakens as individuals get older. Vaccines are bliss to the human race.
The infections like flu, tetanus, shingles, cough, COVID-19, and diphtheria increase the risk of complications that can lead to long-term illness and hospitalization. The factors that affect the vaccine recommendation. The recommended vaccines for adults are based on age, prior, health, lifestyle, occupation, sexual activity, and travel destination.
What Are the Vaccines Recommended for Older Individuals?
The vaccines that are recommended for older individuals are:
-
Influenza (Flu): The influenza vaccine is recommended for every individual from six months and older every year. Influenza is a respiratory virus. Getting the vaccine can decrease the risk of complications from the flu, like sinus, pneumonia, ear infections, brain, heart, or muscle tissue inflammation, multiple organ failure, or sepsis. The vaccines are particularly for ages 65 and above, creating more potent immune responses, high-dose flu, and adjuvant flu. An individual can receive either of the vaccines.
-
Pneumonia: The pneumonia vaccine is recommended as a one-time vaccine for individuals aged 65 and older. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria or virus that infects the lungs. The vaccine is 60 to 70 percent effective in preventing invasive diseases. An individual can get a vaccine from a healthcare provider's office.
-
Shingles: The shingles vaccine is recommended for individuals aged 50 or older, even if the individual had shingles in the past or had a previous shingles vaccine. It is a two-shot series; the second shot is given two to six months after the first. Shingle is a viral infection. The chickenpox virus remains inactive in the nerve tissue and can react as shingles. This can cause a painful, blistery rash on one side of the body. Shingles can also cause postherpetic neuralgia, which causes severe and debilitating pain. The vaccine is more excellent than 90 percent effective in preventing postherpetic neuralgia and shingles.
-
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (TDAP): Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine are recommended if one has not received a tetanus shot in the last ten years and has only had tetanus and diphtheria combined. Tetanus is caused by bacteria in manure, dirt, and soil and can impair the nervous system. Diphtheria is caused by a bacteria that attaches to the lining of the respiratory system, causes difficulty swallowing and breathing, and can get into the bloodstream and damage the heart, nerves, and kidneys. Pertussis can result in serious diseases, especially for vulnerable populations like young children and older adults. Pertussis can cause coughing fits due to bacteria that attach to the lining of the upper respiratory system.
-
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): HPV vaccine is recommended at a younger age, and repeated doses are recommended for three doses. HPV is a common virus that is responsible for leading to cancer.
-
Hepatitis B: This is recommended for all adults aged 19 to 59. The vaccine is also recommended for adults like 60 and above who have a possible risk of developing hepatitis B. It is not recommended for those aged 60 and above without risk factors. The Hepatitis B vaccine is a condition that affects the liver.
-
COVID-19: The risk of severe disease increases with age, so it is recommended for older adults. The Covid-19 vaccine helps prevent severe illness and its side effects. It typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity against the coronavirus that leads to COVID-19. An individual is not fully vaccinated until two doses. Only after the second dose does the vaccination process complete. Both doses are 94 to 95 percent effective, while a single dose is 66 percent effective.
-
Travel Vaccines: If an individual is planning to travel to other countries, vaccines are required and recommended based on other destinations, medical history, and planned activities. Multiple doses are needed. It is best to spend four to six weeks before travel, and time is required to build immunity. The most common travel vaccines are Covid-19, MMR, Japanese measles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, flu, cholera, and chicken pox.
What Is the Preventive Test for Older Individuals?
The preventive test for older individuals are as follows:
-
Safety and Functional Abilities: Check older adults for any recent falls or functional impairment, and assess home safety for elder mistreatment.
-
Substance Abuse, Cognitive and Mental Health: Tobacco or alcohol misuse, cognitive impairment, signs, and symptoms of depression and loneliness.
-
Physical screening for obesity, hepatitis C, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), STI (sexually transmitted disease), high and low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and high cholesterol.
-
Cancer screening for lung, prostate, breast, cervical, and colon cancer.
-
Coronary artery and carotid disease screening by ECG and carotid artery testing.
Conclusion:
Globally, the proportion of older people is rapidly increasing. Infections in this age group mainly occur due to many viral infections, recently with SARS-CoV-2, leading to more substantial mortality and morbidity. Many improvements are made in vaccines that are delivered to older individuals by adding novel adjuvants, a new recombinant zoster vaccine, and influenza vaccine or by increasing antigen concentration. Vaccines are safe and helpful for the severe consequences of the disease. The common side effects are swelling, pain, and redness when the vaccine is administered. Talk in detail with the healthcare provider before getting vaccinated.
