Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, death. The flu spreads mainly through droplets when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. It can also spread by touching a surface or object that has a flu virus and then touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
Although anyone can get the flu, certain groups are at a higher risk of developing serious complications. This includes young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions, and especially older adults aged 65 years and over.
Older adults are more vulnerable to the flu. As we age, our immune defenses weaken, a process known as immunosenescence, which reduces the body’s ability to fight infections like the flu. This weakened immunity is compounded by the presence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are common in older adults and further increase susceptibility to severe complications. Additionally, aging affects the body’s inflammatory response, leading to dysregulated immune activation, which can worsen flu outcomes. As a result, older adults are at a significantly higher risk of severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death, accounting for the majority of flu-related hospitalizations and fatalities annually.
Preventive strategies, including high-dose or adjuvanted vaccines, are crucial to reduce these risks in this vulnerable population. Vaccination is the best way to protect against influenza and its associated complications.
Flu vaccination is crucial for older adults. Here’s why:
1. Reduced Risk of Severe Illness
Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in older adults.
2. Protection Against Complications
Vaccination can help prevent serious complications such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening for older adults.
3. Community Immunity
By getting vaccinated, older adults also help protect those around them, including family members and caregivers who might be at risk.
Several types of flu vaccines are specifically recommended for people aged 65 years and older:
1. High-Dose Flu Vaccine: This vaccine contains a higher dose of antigen, which helps to create a stronger immune response in older adults.
2. Adjuvanted Flu Vaccine: This vaccine includes an adjuvant (an additional element) that helps boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine. Fluad is an example of an adjuvant influenza vaccine.
3. Recombinant Flu Vaccine: This type of vaccine is produced using a method that does not require the virus to grow in eggs, making it a good option for people with egg allergies. Flublok is an example of a recombinant flu vaccine.
The best time to get vaccinated is before the flu season begins, typically September or October. It is important to get vaccinated every year because influenza viruses change and the vaccine is updated annually to protect against the most common strains.
For older adults, flu can be particularly dangerous, but vaccination offers a powerful tool to reduce the risk of severe illness and complications. By choosing the right vaccine and getting vaccinated annually, older adults can protect themselves and contribute to the overall health of their community.
High-dose (HD) vaccines have shown better efficacy than standard-dose (SD) vaccines in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza (LCI), even when the vaccine strains do not perfectly match circulating viruses. This is due to the higher antigen content in HD vaccines, which elicits a stronger immune response that is crucial for older adults with weaker immune systems. The adjuvant MF59 (Fluad) vaccine boosts immune responses in older adults by enhancing antigen uptake and activating immune cells, which may provide broader protection. Observational studies have suggested that it reduces influenza-related complications in the older population.
According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, “most of the evidence supporting the use of influenza vaccines in adults aged 65 years and older is available for the high-dose (HD) influenza vaccine, followed by the adjuvanted (Adj) and recombinant (RIV) influenza vaccines.”
