Staying up to date on five key vaccinations will help older adults protect their health and enjoy their later years.
Getting to retirement age is a big milestone for everyone, with much to look forward to in senior years ahead. At that time, people become keenly aware of the importance of keeping up with their medical care and staying healthy to enjoy their golden years. One aspect of preventive care during this period that is critical to achieving good health is making sure you are caught up on vaccine recommendations for this age group.
Immunization checklist for older people
While most of these vaccines are not unique to seniors, they are particularly important for them:
- An annual influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone over age 65. It is worth noting that a higher dose preparation is used for people in this age group.
- Similarly, keeping up with guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination is very important because seniors continue to account for the largest number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infections.
- A booster for Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough (TdaP) is recommended once every ten years for all adults, including seniors.
- The shingles (zoster) vaccine is recommended for all senior citizens (and anyone over age 50). This is true regardless of whether you have had shingles before.
- Finally, vaccination against pneumonia is particularly important for the elderly. Ideally, this is using the PCV20 conjugate vaccine. Alternatively, you could get the PCV15 conjugate vaccine followed by PPSV23 polysaccharide vaccine a year later.
All this information can be overwhelming at a time when you are dealing with many other aspects of growing older. If you haven’t already done so, talk to your healthcare provider to review your individual situation.
And if you are responsible for keeping a community or large population healthy, Primary.Health can help you quickly and easily arrange group vaccination(s), testing, and preventive screenings at your local venues. Talk to a member of our Provider team to get started.
Disclaimer: This blog content and linked materials are not intended as individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered as such. Any readers with medical concerns should contact a licensed healthcare provider. This blog is provided for informational purposes only.
