{"id":4025,"date":"2018-10-24T20:30:15","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T20:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/20\/?p=4025"},"modified":"2021-10-05T05:06:53","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T05:06:53","slug":"flu-shots-for-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/20\/illinois\/hinsdale\/blog\/flu-shots-for-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Flu Shot Guide for Senior Citizens – All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The smartest way seniors can thwart the flu this season is to get a flu vaccine.<\/p><\/div>\n

Flu symptoms are alike, no matter what the age bracket. In seniors, however, a bout of the flu can lead to lengthy hospitals stays and may even be fatal.<\/p>\n

Older people are significantly more vulnerable to flu-related complications, like pneumonia, dehydration and the worsening of chronic ailments.<\/p>\n

The increased health risk in seniors is due to this age group\u2019s decreased immunity, a phenomenon that naturally occurs as people age.<\/p>\n

The smartest way seniors can thwart the flu this season is to get a flu vaccine.<\/p>\n

Choose the Right Flu Vaccine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seniors are given a handful of vaccine options to prevent the flu and its related complications. Physicians treating elderly patients will recommend the optimum vaccine:<\/p>\n

High-dose flu shots<\/strong> are available to those aged 65 and older. The specialized vaccine is four times more potent than traditional flu shots intended for younger people, giving older folks amped up immune responses to make up for their decreased immunity.<\/p>\n

The high-dose flu shot contains a quadruple dose of antigens in comparison with a regular flu shot. Approved since 2009, high-dose flu shots stimulate higher antibody productions in older people.<\/p>\n

The adjuvanted flu vaccine<\/strong>, Fluad<\/a>, also strengthens seniors\u2019 immune responses. Newer to healthcare (available since the 2016-2017 flu season), Fluad<\/a> offers a 63 percent greater effectiveness than standard flu shots.<\/p>\n

Seniors are also advised to stay up to date on the pneumococcal vaccination<\/strong>, which helps to ward off pneumococcal illnesses, such as pneumonia, meningitis and infections to the bloodstream. The pneumococcal vaccine may be given at the same time as the flu vaccine.<\/p>\n

Get Vaccinated in Autumn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flu season is a 13-week period during which people are more likely to catch the flu virus and become ill with the flu. The flu season starts in late fall and ends in early spring of the following year. Peak flu season generally falls in January or February.<\/p>\n

Older adults should make efforts to get vaccinated no later than the end of October, when flu season begins its harsh rampage. The flu vaccine\u2019s immunity protection takes approximately two weeks to take full effect.<\/p>\n

All flu vaccines remain active for an entire year. Influenza virus strains change yearly, making last year\u2019s flu vaccine ineffective. Flu vaccines are also updated annually to address the changing viruses. Consequently, seniors are advised to get a flu shot every autumn, regardless of whether or not they received the vaccine the prior year.<\/p>\n

Medical experts warn that getting a flu shot too early may cause the vaccine to wane before flu season ends, leaving the senior without full protection throughout the end of flu season. Be aware that flu season may last until early May.<\/p>\n

Still, getting the flu shot later is better than not getting vaccinated at all. Booster flu shots are available for seniors who are vaccinated early, giving them protection until flu season ends.<\/p>\n

Get a Flu Shot Locally<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seniors may get flu shots from many common places:<\/p>\n