{"id":2937,"date":"2021-10-20T12:35:31","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T12:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.boomershub.com\/?p=2937"},"modified":"2023-03-09T15:02:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T15:02:44","slug":"flu-vaccination-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boomershub.com\/blog\/flu-vaccination-for-seniors","title":{"rendered":"Flu Vaccine for Seniors: Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Introduction\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0flu season<\/a>\u00a0is here. You may not feel it much now. But just let a month go by, and you\u2019ll start feeling the chill. The cold breeze is coming, and so are the constant sneeze and fever.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you know how you can be ready for this season? We have some preventive measures shared with you in the past. And now, we\u2019re going to focus on the first and most important task on the list.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why\u00a0Flu Vaccin<\/strong>e Is Necessary for Seniors?<\/h2>\n

And in times of the Covid-19 pandemic, flu contamination has become scarier. It is highly contagious. And so, the chances of spreading it to someone recovering from Covid is also high.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thus, a flu vaccine for seniors is an absolute necessity. Yet, it is often looked down upon at the senior care facilities. Most people are confused about it as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, we will focus on convincing you for the influenza vaccine with some pros and cons of flu vaccination.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Flu Season Over the Years\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Every year, the flu season begins in September. CDC estimates the season to last till the end of March. But the severity can vary depending on your location.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In some cities, winter comes at the end of October. And it can last only a few weeks. The severe cold is the leading cause of flu. And so, you never know when you can get affected by the Influenza virus during this period.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The same thing is expected to happen this year as well. If you are not ready to fight the virus, you will catch a cold. There are many warning risks of catching the flu.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best way to fight it is to get the vaccine as soon as possible. And it is valid for people of any age. Seniors are more at risk. And so, getting the vaccine is much more critical for them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Flu Risk Among Seniors\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to WHO, people over 65 years of age are at a high risk of catching Influenza. As a result, they are more prone to seasonal flu than others. There are a couple of reasons behind this. We have accumulated them into 2. These are as follows:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Their age\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n

The first reason is their age. People over 65 have weak immune systems. This makes them prone to many diseases. And flu is just one of the many.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The weak immune system causes elderly people to be more at risk of the Influenza virus. This is because the virus goes inside their body, and the immune system cannot work to fight it. As a result, they often get sick with seasonal fever, cough and cold.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Underline diseases\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Seniors have many underlying diseases. Their age and their faulty immune system make them carry different medical conditions. This can include asthma, dementia, diabetes, lung disease or others.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

These already existing diseases make them prone to flu as well. This is because they already have weak immune systems. And their immune system is deteriorating every day from the medical conditions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another example can be having breathing issues. If an elderly person has breathing issues, it can take a serious turn during the flu season. They may have a severe asthma attack from the flu virus contamination.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flu Vaccination for Seniors during the Covid-19 Pandemic\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

None of us can remember a time without Covid-19! It may have been only one and a half years ago when the deadly virus didn\u2019t shake our lives. But even today, Covid-19 has an important place in our flu vaccine discussion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The primary problem in diagnosing the two is their symptoms. Both Covid and flu have similar symptoms. As a result, it is not unreal to be confused with which vaccine actually to take when the symptoms are quite similar.\u00a0\u00a0So the question may arise, does flu vaccine work for corona virus? Unfortunately, normal flu shots do not provide much protection against COVID-19, and even if it does, that may not last long.<\/p>\n

Anyone can think that their symptoms are of seasonal flu. This can make them decide not even to consider Covid treatment. But they may have been affected by the coronavirus. In such a case, taking the flu vaccine has completely zero benefits to\u00a0fight against Covid-19<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, the primary factor to consider is the pre-treatment. Whenever you feel bad during this season, check up with your doctor. If both you and your doctor feel the need to test for Covid, do it. And then, quickly get the vaccines for your treatment. We can assure you that none of the vaccines are bad for you.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

But you must make sure that you take the suitable vaccine during the pandemic situation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Are the Types of Flu Vaccine for Seniors?<\/span><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re on the main topic now. The flu shot vaccine for older adults is different from other aged people. People under 65 years old can take either a shot or a nasal spray. But it is not that simple for seniors over 65.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

CDC has designed 2 distinctive vaccine shots for seniors. This age group of people can take any one of them. Here is a brief discussion on the best flue vaccines for seniors:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Adjuvanted Flu Vaccine\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n

The brand of the Adjuvanted flu vaccine is\u00a0Fluad\u00a0Quadrivalent. This vaccine is made from MF59 Adjuvant. The specialty of this additive is that it enhances the immune system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a result, seniors will experience a better fighting response to the Influenza virus. It first became available in 2016-17 in the US.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. High-dose flu vaccine\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n

The second kind is the high-dose flu vaccine. This vaccine contains 4-times more antigen than regular flu vaccines. Thus, it works to strengthen the immune system more than the previous one.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

This vaccine has been approved to use among seniors since 2009. As a result, elderly people can expect to experience a significant increase in immunity against the Influenza virus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How Does the Flu Vaccine Work?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

So, you took the flu vaccine. Is it working? Are you concerned about its reaction to your body? You will need to know how it works to get rid of all the confusion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"flu\n
Flu Vaccination Workflow<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

So, how does the flu vaccine work? The vaccine starts working in your body after 2 weeks of the shot. The first thing it does is to stimulate the white blood cells (WBC). After that, WBC starts making antibodies to fight the virus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The antibodies will flow through the body for the next 6 months. Whenever they notice the Influenza virus, they will attack and defeat it immediately. After 6 months, they will die away. But this time, the B Lymphocytes will produce the antibodies quicker.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How Often Should Seniors Get Flu Shots?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

How long does the flu vaccine last? We already know that the flu vaccine creates antibodies that can stay in the body for\u00a06 months<\/a>. But the main question is- will you have to retake the flu shot in your life?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The answer is yes. The first thing to consider is that the flu vaccine may last less in seniors. So, the vaccine may wear off earlier than you might think.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thus, experts suggest that everyone should get a flu shot once a year. It means that if you take the vaccine by the end of October, you are good to go for the next 1 year. Then, you can again get a vaccine in October 2022, and so on.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flu vaccine effectiveness\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n

The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on quite a few factors. Among them, age is the most significant one. The older you get, the faster the vaccine will wear off.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also, the mutation of the virus is a crucial factor here. The virus may change, and the vaccine may no longer work. Thus, professionals develop better variations each year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here is a complete chart of the flu effectiveness percentage among seniors in the last 5 years:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"flu\n
Flu Vaccine Effectiveness in Seniors<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

Source:\u00a0CDC<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

How Safe Is Flu Vaccination for Seniors?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

This is one of the significant concerns among seniors. Is the vaccine safe for any age group of people? Well, it is safe for seniors. But there can be some\u00a0mild side effects<\/a>, like redness or swelling in the shot area or muscle ache, etc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another common question is- can the flu vaccine give you flu again? The vaccine is designed to tackle the virus by creating antibodies in our bodies. So, it is absolutely impossible to get flu again after the vaccination.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, as mentioned already, the effectiveness of the virus will wear off faster for seniors. As a result, you may feel the vaccine stop working after 8-10 months. In that case, you will again have to get a flu shot.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Are the Side Effects of Flu Vaccine for Seniors?<\/h2>\n

So, you know that flu shot is safe. But there are some flu vaccine side effects that you need to be aware of. Any vaccine can have side effects. Here are the ones that a senior may experience:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n