With the winter flu season officially underway, it is important to consider the best possible way to prevent the flu, also referred to as “influenza,” the flu vaccine. What many older adults do not know is that the immune system is weakened with age, meaning older adults will find themselves at a greater risk to acquire the flu virus and related winter flu complications.
Each year there are more than 200,000 people hospitalized in the United States each year from flu related illness or flu symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adults aged sixty-five years and older typically account for more than one-half of these hospitalizations and upward of ninety-percent of all deaths, according to CDC reports.
To help spread the word amongst the elderly about this serious public health issue, the National Council on Aging launched the second year of Flu + You, an educational program that encourages the elderly and their caregivers to learn about the seriousness of influenza, the importance of the vaccination and all vaccine options for anyone who is over the age of 65.
The flu can make existing health problems worse, and it is particularly dangerous for anyone who is suffering from a lung disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, kidney disease and cancer. All are common health conditions in older populations. These conditions put them at increased risk of the flu and flu-related complications, which can include hospitalization or even death.
The CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine as the best possible way for anyone over the age of 65 to protect his or her health, yet one-third of people in this age group do not get vaccinated. NCOA hopes to continue its plan to educate older adults about the flue and the potential severity, in an effort to encourage more people to protect themselves with the vaccination.
There are now many types of flu vaccinations, with several designed for people of certain age groups or different immunization needs, including a higher dose vaccine for adults age 65 and older. By improving the production of antibodies, the higher dose vaccine can provide a better immune response to the flu than other traditional flu vaccines.
Older adults and their caregivers are encouraged to learn more about winter flu vaccine options and the overall positives associated with getting an annual flu vaccination.
The blogging team from http://www.drsmartphonemd.com is unable to make direct recommendations regarding flu vaccinations or proper techniques for treating winter flu symptoms. Our belief is that readers need to use our articles as the starting point in developing their own plan of action, moving forward to review information on the appropriate medical websites. If a reader has a specific question or concern, we do recommend reaching out to a medical professional as soon as possible.
