Vaccines Recommended for Seniors in Shelbyville, IN

You may think that vaccines are just for kids, but older adults need them too. As you age, you want to do everything possible to protect your health. You become more at risk for certain diseases as your immune system weakens over time.

Infections such as pneumonia, flu, COVID-19, and others can be dangerous for seniors. The risk of complications, serious illness, and hospitalization increases as you age.

Vaccines recommended for seniors help to prevent diseases that can have serious implications. Walker Place Assisted Living in beautiful Shelbyville, IN, develops individualized care plans for each resident and has an RN on staff for quality resident care.

Here's a guide to vaccines for senior health protection.

The Importance of Immunizations as You Age

Aging and immunity are related. The immune system weakens as you age, and this reduces the body's ability to fight off infections. This leaves people over the age of 65 vulnerable to certain diseases. The complications of diseases intensify in older populations. The flu for a 40-year-old is much different than it is for an 80-year-old.

The risks for serious illness, hospitalization, and death increase as you age. Vaccines can help protect you from getting common diseases. They can help you lead a healthier and longer life.

COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 can be very serious in older adults. The risk of severe complications increases with age. Adults over 65 are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Getting the recommended doses of the vaccine can help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccines protect against the virus variants currently circulating. You may still contract COVID-19 following a vaccination and booster. If you do, the vaccine reduces your chances of becoming severely ill.

If you had COVID-19 in the past, you may not develop long-lasting immunity. Those who have had the virus should still get the vaccine. Speak to your doctor about the COVID-19 vaccine and other adult immunizations in IN to decide what's right for you.

Influenza Vaccine

The Influenza vaccine is recommended for individuals six months and older. Most people aged 65 and over and those with chronic medical conditions should get the vaccine yearly.

Having the vaccine decreases your risk of getting the flu. The flu shot isn't 100% effective all the time. It's based on predictions of the various strains of flu that are expected to be most prevalent each year. These strains may or may not emerge, but it's always a good idea to get the vaccine as a preventative measure.

Pneumonia Vaccine Tips

Pneumonia can be a serious disease for older adults. There are two vaccines that help reduce the risk of serious complications from pneumonia. The pneumococcal conjugate and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines are recommended for individuals 65 and older.

The pneumonia vaccine is also available for babies, children under two, and those between the ages of two and 64 who have certain medical conditions and are at risk of severe complications, according to the CDC.

Getting both vaccines increases your protection from the various viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia. These vaccines are typically taken one year apart. With these vaccines, there have been dramatic decreases in the rates of pneumonia in the U.S.

Shingles Vaccine

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This virus causes chickenpox. After you have the chicken pox, the virus remains inactive but present in nerve tissue. It can later reactivate and emerge as shingles.

Shingles can lead to a red blistering rash. It typically occurs on one side of the body and can be painful and even disabling for some people. Over the last 15 years, the chicken pox vaccine has been very successful at reducing the incidence of the disease.

Older adults who had chicken pox before the vaccine was available can get shingles years later. If you have shingles, you can spread chicken pox to someone who hasn't been immunized or previously exposed. The vaccine can reduce your chances of developing shingles.

The shingles vaccine is around 50% effective for people aged 65 to 70. This effectiveness decreases for those over the age of 70. Speak to your doctor about the flu and shingles vaccines and if they're right for you.

Tetanus and Pertussis

You can get tetanus from stepping on a rusty nail, but that's not the only way. Tetanus isn't spread from person to person. Instead, it's a bacterium present in dust, soil, and manure. It emerges due to a break in the skin or contact with a contaminated object.

It's possible to get tetanus after getting a cut or a scrape, or doing something as simple as working in the yard or gardening. Most people receive a tetanus shot during childhood but do not receive a booster. A booster shot is recommended every 10 years. Tetanus can be deadly, so it's important to stay up-to-date on your boosters.

The tetanus vaccine is now combined with a pertussis booster. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It can be deadly for babies, small children, and senior adults. Pertussis is a standard vaccine for babies that's also recommended for adults who will be around young children. Pertussis is very contagious and causes a deep cough that can persist for months.

If you had the pertussis vaccine as a child, your immunity may decrease over time. Parents and grandparents should get the booster to protect their children and grandchildren. Speak to your doctor about whether you need the tetanus and pertussis vaccine.