According to MedlinePlus, the immune system becomes slower to respond as you get older. As a result, you're more susceptible to getting sick, and your body heals more slowly. Not only does this mean more pain and discomfort, but also, some situations can be so dire that they may be fatal.
However, there's an easy way to reduce your risks: by getting vaccinations. They may be painful jabs, but the few seconds of discomfort are worth it when you see what they can do.
Do you want to know what recommended vaccines for seniors are in Kingwood, TX? Then keep reading. Here's the adult vaccination schedule you should use.
The CDC says that between 70% and 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. In addition, between 50% and 70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations are people in this age group. As you can see, the flu is a serious matter, and you should protect yourself against it.
The flu shot for seniors is a must. Each year, you should get a high-dose or adjuvanted flu shot, rather than the standard vaccine. For example, Fluzone High-Dose and Fluad generate a stronger immune response, leading to fewer hospitalizations and deaths in seniors from the flu.
Why should you get a stronger flu shot? Well, when we get older, we go through immunosenescence. Since our immune system gets weaker, it also has a reduced response to vaccines.
Ideally, you should get the flu vaccine between late September and October. However, later is fine if you missed early vaccination dates.
The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic may be over, but that doesn't mean that the virus is gone. In fact, it's probably here to stay, and seniors are especially vulnerable to it. If one person gets it, the coronavirus can spread quickly through a senior living community.
If you haven't kept up with your COVID-19 vaccines, then you should, as protection from your last shot wanes over time. You should get at least two doses of the 2024-2025 vaccine, and they should be spaced approximately six months apart.
It's optimal to get an additional booster in the spring. It should ideally be four months after your last dose or infection.
The Tdap/Td vaccine stands for "tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough)." According to the CDC, you should get the Tdap vaccine once, and then get a booster shot every 10 years after that. The boosters should be Td or Tdap. If you've never received the Tdap before, then you can get it at any time as an adult, even if you've gotten the Td vaccine.
It's important to keep up with this vaccine since tetanus and diphtheria immunity wanes with time. Pertussis can be severe in infants, and if you're an unvaccinated senior, it's possible for you to spread it to babies by contact if you see them regularly, such as during Father's Day.
The pneumococcal vaccine is also known as the pneumonia vaccine. As you can guess, it protects you against pneumonia, as well as meningitis.
If you're over the age of 50 and you've never received this vaccine (or your previous vaccination history is unknown), then it's advised that you get the pneumococcal vaccination. This includes conjugate vaccines (PCV15/20/21) and PPSV23, tailored to your health status.
If you're uncertain, it's better to err on the side of caution. Pneumococcal infections can cause serious illness in seniors, and the new vaccines cover more bacterial strains.
Those who haven't had a prior pneumococcal vaccine should get the PCV15 or PCV20. If you opt for the former, then you'll need the PPSV23 one year later. Or if you have immunocompromising conditions, you can get the PCV20 without the PPSV23 follow-up.
The shingles vaccine protects you against the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which is what causes shingles. It can also cause nerve pain.
This vaccine is important since the incidence and severity of shingles (and related nerve pain) increase with age. The good news is that the vaccine is highly effective in seniors; the National Council on Aging (NCOA) says Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles in healthy adults aged 50 to 69, and it was 91% effective in those 70 and older. There's robust protection for at least 10 years too.
You should receive two doses of the shingles vaccine, with a waiting time of 2-6 months in between. Even if you've had shingles before, you should still get this vaccine.
RSV is a tricky disease since it's a respiratory virus that can mimic flu-like symptoms. However, it often leads to severe lower respiratory infections in older adults.
These infections result in hospitalizations, which can be distressing. But the one-dose RSV vaccine can cut your hospitalization risk significantly, so it's on our list of senior immunizations in Kingwood that you should get.
All adults 75 and older should get it, although those 60-74 with underlying health risks should as well. Ideally, you should have it administered before the winter RSV season, so roughly, between September to November.
"MMR" stands for "measles, mumps, rubella." These are all typically childhood viral infections, but they can occasionally reemerge in adults.
Generally speaking, seniors born in 1957 or later may lack immunity against mumps and rubella. In addition, measles outbreaks are still occurring nowadays, so immunity helps not only individuals, but also prevents the spread to children and immunocompromised people.
If you can't confirm MMR immunity by records or blood tests, then you should get one or two doses of the MMR vaccine.
It's vital that you get the recommended vaccines for seniors that we've presented to you in this article.
If you have trouble finding the necessary resources to get these shots, then refer to Kingwood health services for seniors. The knowledgeable staff members should be able to point you in the right direction and get you the appointments you need.
Contact us now to request more information on senior living in Kingwood, TX. Cypress Woods Senior Living provides housekeeping and maintenance for all our residents, so you can live a stress-free life.