It's that time of year again - time to get your annual flu shot. Each year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a seasonal flu shot for nearly everyone. The CDC emphasizes how important this shot is for seniors. Why? Because seniors (people aged 65 and older) have an elevated risk of developing more serious forms of the flu, with more severe complications. The flu, or influenza as it's properly known, causes over 200,000 people to be hospitalized each year, and is fatal for about 24,000 people. Sadly, 90 percent of those fatalities from the flu are senior citizens. Don't become an unnecessary victim of flu, when there are a variety of good vaccines for seniors. There's even one that has been designed especially for seniors.
Here's a brief summary of the 4 vaccines for seniors. Talk to your physician and find out which choice would be best for you or someone that you provide senior care to.
1. Standard (trivalent) flu vaccine
As its name implies, this flu shot is one that's been around for over 30 years. It confers protection against three common influenza strains. For this season's 2014-2015 version, protection against two common A strains - H1N1 and H3N2 - as well as one influenza B strain is provided. Note that the B strains of flu often become more active later in the flu season, for example in March or April, so a vaccine with the B strain is a good option.
2. Quadrivalent flu vaccine
"Quad" means four and this particular flu shot gives you protection against four different types of influenza. They are the same three as in the standard flu shot, plus the vaccine adds in one more B strain. This vaccine was introduced last year.
3. Hi-dose flu vaccine
Developed specifically for senior citizens! The hi-dose flu vaccine, also known as the Fluzone High-Dose, delivers four times the quantity of antigen than a regular flu shot. According to the CDC, this extra antigen dose makes your immune response stronger and so offers you better protection against the flu. Take note, though, that this high dose can bring some mildly unpleasant side effects. These can include headache, fever and muscle aches.
4. Intradermal flu vaccine
If you're 64 years or less, and hate needles, this intradermal flu shot is a great option. It employs a very small 1/16 inch long needle known as a micro-needle. This type of needle injects the vaccine just under the surface of the skin, instead of going deeper into the muscle like the other types of flu vaccines.
You may wonder why the flu mist treatment that you've heard about isn't listed here. This type of flu prevention method is recommended only for people aged 2 to 49 years.
Consider the pneumonia vaccine, too
The CDC also recommends that seniors receive a pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia this time of year. Did you know that about 900,000 people in the U.S. catch pneumococcal pneumonia every year, and about 5,000 die from it? Don't be one of those statistics. This year, the CDC suggests that seniors 65 years and older receive two pneumonia vaccines, known as the Prevnar 13 and the Pneumovax 23. This is a new CDC recommendation, as previously only the Pneumovax 23 was suggested for seniors. Again, speak to your doctor and find out what vaccines for seniors you need to keep you healthy and vigorous.
