National Immunization Awareness Month – Perfect for Senior Vaccination Check-Ups

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. With so much misinformation currently being spread about vaccinations, this month is an important one for health care providers and families. As children, teens, and adults head back to school for the fall semester, accurate information about immunization is crucial for ensuring public health.

But what about vaccinations for seniors? Oftentimes, this demographic is overlooked when efforts are being made to share information about immunizations. However, immunizations are not only still available for those in their senior years – they are extremely important!

Here’s what you need to know about vaccines for seniors: 

Annual Vaccines

Most people know that getting an annual flu shot is important. Few groups need the protection of the influenza vaccine more than seniors, though. Nearly 60% of annual hospitalizations for influenza are seniors, and nearly all of these hospitalizations occur in patients who are not vaccinated. Get the shot and get protected to keep this from happening to you or your loved ones. 

Booster Shotsinflue

For adults over 50, there are also several vaccines that are recommended to boost the effects of others or maintain long-term immunity to dangerous diseases. 

Healthy older adults should ask their health care providers about the shingles or Zoster vaccine. This prevents catching the virus if a patient hasn’t before, or – more likely – encountering shingles symptoms if the virus already exists in the person’s system. If you have ever had Chicken Pox as a child, you need a shingles vaccine!

The Tetanus-Diptheria-Pertussis (Tdap) vaccination is recommended every ten years regardless of age. It safeguards against both tetanus and diphtheria and also provides protection from pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough. 

Another important immunization to get as a senior is the Pneumococcal vaccine. This protects against pneumonia and its complications – a condition that kills over 60,000 people each year. Since seniors are far more likely to contract it than other demographics, it is vital to take the time to acquire the protection you or your loved one need to prevent it. 

For more information on vaccinations for seniors and how to protect yourself or your loved one, speak to your health care provider. At Thrive USA Home Care Services, we recommend using this August to check in with your doctor and make sure you’re protected. You’ll be glad you did!