Not just for kids: The importance of vaccination for seniors

Kids need routine vaccinations while they’re growing up—and adults need them, too. In fact, vaccines can be every bit as essential for older adults as they are for kids. That’s why our Touro team is taking time to fill you in on the importance of vaccination for seniors.

Why vaccines are important

Vaccines are for everyone, at every age. While children receive routine vaccinations as part of developmental checkups during childhood, some vaccine-preventable diseases require booster shots or additional doses later in life.

What’s the purpose of vaccines, anyhow? Essentially, these medications serve as a preventive tool against health conditions that previously were quite severe or even deadly. Many types of preventable disease have been wiped out in the United States since vaccinations against them were introduced.

A shot of protection for adults

We receive immunizations during childhood because it offers the best opportunity to prevent disease by ramping up the body’s immune system before it is exposed to certain viruses.

As adults, we need vaccines for different reasons. Over the years, the immunity provided by certain vaccinations can wane, creating the need for booster shots to provide renewed immunity. As we get older, we’re also at a higher risk of developing severe illness and complications from some infections.

There are also some vaccines that are recommended on an annual basis since they’re reformulated to protect against the most common strains of a virus. This includes the flu vaccine and likely will include the COVID-19 vaccine in the years to come.

All vaccinations—the ones received in childhood, the booster shots received later in life and annual vaccines—work together to protect us as individuals and as a community.

Vaccines older adults need

Wondering if you’re up to date on vaccines? Annual checkups with a primary care provider offer an excellent opportunity to make sure you receive all the vaccines you need. Your provider can suggest specific vaccines for you based on your age.

Recommended vaccines for older adults include an annual flu shot, COVID-19 shots according to updated guidelines, two doses of the shingles vaccine at age 50 or older, a dose of one of the pneumococcal vaccines at age 65 or older, and a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years.

If you’ll be spending time around a newborn grandbaby or caring for another child, be sure you receive the Tdap booster since it protects against pertussis, or whooping cough. Because babies can’t be vaccinated against whooping cough for a couple months after birth, it’s important that everyone around them be vaccinated as a layer of protection against the illness.

In addition to these vaccines, talk with your primary care provider about whether you should receive the new RSV vaccine. While we often hear about RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) as an illness in children, it can also be serious among older adults and those who have a diminished immune system. A single-dose RSV vaccine was approved earlier this year for adults ages 60 and older.

Depending on your specific needs, you may need other vaccinations. Your primary care provider can offer personalized vaccine recommendations and answer any questions you have about vaccines for older adults and vaccine safety.

For specialized care as you age, schedule a wellness visit through the Senior Care program at Touro.