The Most Important Shots for Older Adults

An estimated 45,000 adults die every year from complications due to vaccine-preventable diseases. This is because most adults don’t feel the need to get vaccinated or are worried about the possible side effects of vaccines. However, seniors aged 65 and older are at higher risk of developing complications without vaccinations.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month — and we at Lowenhill Home Care Services show our support to this cause by encouraging our clients to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Here are some of the most important shots for older adults:

Influenza/Flu Vaccine
Seniors must get an annual flu vaccine, especially if they have underlying high-risk conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease.

Pneumococcal Vaccine
Pneumonia is responsible for 60,000 deaths each year. If your loved one is over 65 and has previously been vaccinated, they can get a one-time repeat vaccination if five (5) years or more have elapsed since their original shot.

Zoster Vaccine
The zoster vaccine has only been available for a few years. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s essentially a security measure that helps prevent and/or minimize a shingles outbreak. Shingles is a painful, uncomfortable, contagious blistering rash. The vaccine decreases your chances of getting it by 50%.

Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap)
More and more seniors are getting pertussis, or whooping cough, possibly due to fading immunity. If you are less than 65 years old, the Tdap vaccine will protect you against the disease the best. On the other hand, if you’re older than 65, you can get the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine without the pertussis component

COVID-19 Vaccine
The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age. Therefore, the CDC recommends that adults 65 years and older receive COVID-19 vaccines to help prevent developing severe COVID-19 symptoms.