Vaccines for Senior Citizens

A common question the clinic receives among the senior citizen patients is about the current recommendations for vaccinations and how often they should be receiving these immunizations. The ever-changing recommendations, the new vaccinations being released yearly, and differing suggestions in media or online sources have led this to become a very confusing issue for patients. It is crucial for seniors to stay informed about the recommended vaccines andalwaysconsultwith their personal healthcare providers to ensure they stay up to date on this very important topic.

As the country ages, ensuring the well-being of senior citizens becomes increasingly important and vaccinations in older patients play a vital role in their health care. Senior citizens are more susceptible to having a weakened immune system, which makes them more vulnerable to certain illnesses. Vaccines help act as another defense to help keep seniors healthy. Local pharmacies, primary health care providers and county health departments are all important resources in our community to help administer vaccines and answer any questions on this crucial part of health care.

The clinic will provide the most current recommendations for the common immunizations given to seniors in the hope of decreasing some of the confusion surrounding these vaccines. Along with this list of the most common immunizations, there are many other vaccines available. Seniors will need to speak with their healthcare providers for special situations and individualized vaccine schedules. All the listed vaccinations here are always optional and are the recommendations for patients ages 65 years or older, but all seniors should consult their primary healthcare provider before receiving any vaccination tomakesurethereareno contraindications involving the administration of any vaccine.

Influenza (flu): Any one dose quadrivalent (highdose) influenza vaccine is preferred between months of October-March Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): one dose RSV vaccine (Arexvy or Abrysvo) for patient with chronic health conditions Pneumonia: three different vaccines available-PPSV23, PCV15, PCV 20 If no prior pneumonia vaccines ever received: PCV 20 or PCV 15 recommended one time first, then at least one year later one dose of PPSV23.

Already received PPSV23: At least one year later from dose of PPSV23, one dose of PCV 20 or PCV 15 Already received PCV 13 and PPSV23 in past after age 65: Five years after last pneumonia vaccine, one dose of PCV20 Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (whooping cough): one dose every 10 years Zoster (shingles): two-dose seriesofRZVorShingrixwith 2-6 months between shots. Seniors should receive an updated two dose series shot even they have previously been vaccinated with the 1 dose vaccine (Zostavax) COVID-19: One dose of updated Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTechvaccine(2023-2024 Formula) if never vaccinated against COVID-19. One dose of any updated (2023-2024 Formula) vaccine if previous vaccinated with one or more doses of any COVID-19 vaccine at least eight weeks after the most recent vaccine.

Reference: https://www. cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ hcp/imz/adult.html