Flu Shot and Seniors
12/04/2013
Flu Shot: What seniors should know!
Flu Shot... It’s that time of the year again. It’s time to prepare for the holidays, and time to prevent the sniffles, aches, and pains that come from catching influenza (Flu). Every fall, we begin to see signs at doctors’ offices, health clinics, and pharmacies reminding us to get a flu shot. But how important is it to get a flu shot? For seniors, it can be extremely important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) people 65 years and older are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu compared with young, healthy adults. It’s estimated that 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations in the United States each year occur in people 65 years and older. This is because human immune defenses become weaker with age. So influenza can be a very serious disease for people 65 and older. Steps seniors should take to help prevent getting the flu- Get a flu shot. A yearly flu shot helps protect the immune system against changing influenza viruses. Each year the vaccine is updated to reflect the most prevalent strains. New for the 2013-14 flu season is a so-called quadrivalent shot that protects against four strains of flu instead of the usual three.There’s also a high-dose flu shot available for people age 65 and older. The high dose vaccine is associated with a stronger immune response to vaccination. However, whether the stronger immune response results in greater protection against influenza illness in older adults is not yet known. The CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have not expressed a preference for either vaccine. But all in all, it’s better to get a flu shot. Better safe than sorry.As far as costs associated with the getting the vaccine, Medicare Part B, and some private insurance plans, cover any flu vaccine appropriate for people 65 and older with no copay. For the uninsured paying cash at the pharmacy, the high-dose version retails for nearly twice the price ($50-$60) of the standard dose ($25-$35). The quadrivalent shot sells for several dollars more than the standard-dose trivalent shot.
- Practice Good Health Habits Be sure to cover coughs and sneezes (it’s best to sneeze into your elbow than on your hands), wash hands often, and avoid people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth unless you’ve washed your hands. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Furthermore, if you’re sick, stay home to avoid spreading germs.By getting a flu shot, you’re not only protecting yourself, you’re protecting those around you by not spreading the flu by not catching it in the first place. This is especially important for seniors who live with caregivers or in close quarters with others, such as assisted living communities.
- Seek medical advice if you develop flu symptoms It’s important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick with flu (for example, people who are in the hospital), and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications, like people 65 and older.When used for treatment, antiviral drugs can lessen symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia. For people with a high risk medical condition, treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having milder illness instead of very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.There are two FDA-approved influenza antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season. The brand names for these are Tamiflu® (generic name oseltamivir) and Relenza® (generic name zanamivir). Tamiflu® is available as a pill or liquid and Relenza® is a powder that is inhaled. (Relenza® is not for people with breathing problems like asthma or COPD, for example.)