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Heading into the thick of flu and COVID season, there have been some latest modifications to vaccine suggestions for individuals over age 50.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lately lowered the age for pneumonia vaccinations by 15 years.
Instead of recommending the pneumococcal vaccine for these 65 and over, the shot is now prompt beginning at age 50.
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“Everyone over 50 should be thinking about vaccines, because as we age, our immune system can become more vulnerable,” Dr. Susannah Hills, surgeon and assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, instructed Fox News Digital.
When selecting which vaccinations to get, it’s also essential to think about private danger, she stated.
The CDC lately lowered the age for pneumonia vaccinations by 15 years, from 65 to 50. (iStock)
“Are there underlying health conditions like diabetes, immunodeficiency or cancer? If so, getting vaccinated becomes even more important.”
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To assist individuals 50 and older hold observe of immunization steering for their age group, Fox News Digital gathered insights from a number of infectious illness consultants.
1. Flu vaccine
The CDC recommends that everybody 6 months and older will get a flu vaccine yearly, together with these 50 and up.
Dr. Jennifer Dunphy, a public well being physician in Los Angeles, California, famous that the flu vaccine is understood to considerably scale back deaths and hospitalizations (from 40% to 52%) within the 50 and older inhabitants.
“Everyone over 50 should be thinking about vaccines … As we age, our immune system can become more vulnerable.”
“It is recommended to get the vaccine at the end of summer, preferably in September, before the weather changes and viruses become more common,” she instructed Fox News Digital.
Common negative effects embody physique aches and low-grade fever, the physician famous.
The flu vaccine is understood to considerably scale back deaths and hospitalizations (from 40% to 52%) within the 50 and older inhabitants, a physician famous. (iStock)
“In some cases, there are very rare but more serious side effects that may impact the nervous system,” Dunphy stated.
“The benefits of the vaccine for most people over 50 will outweigh any risks, but it is recommended to talk to your doctor.”
2. COVID-19 vaccine
The CDC recommends that everybody 6 months and older is vaccinated towards COVID-19 and receives an up to date vaccine annually, usually within the fall earlier than the top of October.
The company additionally advises individuals 65 and older to obtain a second dose of the vaccine.
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“Together with flu and RSV, COVID is part of a triad of respiratory viruses that cause high rates of hospitalization and death in older adults, with increased risk seen with advancing age,” Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious illness knowledgeable at UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, instructed Fox News Digital.
For the COVID-19 vaccine, it is suggested that individuals get two full doses spaced not less than three weeks aside adopted by annual boosters, a physician stated. (iStock)
For the COVID-19 vaccine, it is suggested that individuals get two full doses spaced not less than three weeks aside adopted by annual boosters, in accordance with Dunphy.
The boosters are tailor-made to be efficient towards essentially the most present pressure of the virus, she stated.
“The COVID vaccine works to increase the development of antibodies that fight against exposure turning into infection, and infection from transitioning into serious infection,” she stated.
“Side results differ, however are principally restricted to delicate, flu-like signs.”
Some critical adversarial results have been linked to COVID vaccines, together with anaphylactic shock, myocarditis (irritation of the guts muscle) or pericarditis (irritation of the liner surrounding the guts), in accordance with the CDC.
3. Pneumococcal vaccine
The pneumococcus (pneumonia) vaccine is beneficial for kids youthful than 5 years and adults 50 years or older.
This is an replace to earlier steering, which known as for vaccines in adults 65 and older.
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This one-time vaccine is designed to guard towards bacterial infections that may trigger pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis.
The company recommends giving one in every of three accessible vaccines — PCV15, PCV20 or PCV21 — to all adults 50 years or older who’ve by no means acquired a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or who’re unsure of their vaccination historical past.
“The rate of hospitalizations and death from pneumonia goes up at age 50 and then again by a lot at age 65 years old,” Edwards instructed Fox News Digital.
“The rate of hospitalizations and death from pneumonia goes up at age 50 and then again by a lot at age 65 years old,” a physician instructed Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Typically, adults are advised to get a single dose, but some higher-risk adults may get a dose every five years.”
Side results are usually minimal from this vaccine, she famous.
Fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint ache, or redness, swelling, ache or tenderness on the injection website are some potential negative effects, in accordance with the CDC.
4. Tdap vaccine
The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine helps to guard towards tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
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Pertussis, extra generally often known as whooping cough, has seen a spike within the U.S. in 2024, with greater than 5 occasions the circumstances reported on the similar time final 12 months.
“All adults should get the tetanus vaccine every 10 years, as that is the longest protection lasts,” Edwards suggested.
Most docs agree that it is OK to get the COVID and flu vaccines on the similar time. (iStock)
“Vaccination against whooping cough is sometimes recommended for some older adults, especially those who will spend time with very young children (grandchildren), as infants are at very high risk for death from whooping cough.”
The commonest negative effects after a Tdap vaccination embody delicate fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and ache, swelling or redness on the injection website, the CDC said.
Adults ought to focus on with their docs about whether or not this vaccine is important.
5. Shingles vaccine
It is beneficial that adults 50 and older obtain two doses of Shingrix, the shingles vaccine, two to 6 months aside, per the CDC.
The vaccine protects towards a situation known as herpes zoster, extra generally often known as shingles.
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The an infection causes a painful rash attributable to the varicella-zoster virus, which may trigger nerve harm, continual nerve ache and typically irritation of the mind, in accordance with Edwards.
“Shingles becomes more common with each decade past 50,” she stated.
It is beneficial that adults 50 and older obtain two doses of Shingrix, the shingles vaccine, two to 6 months aside, per the CDC. (iStock)
“This vaccine tends to be kind of rough, with high rates of fever and body aches,” Edwards cautioned.
“Many people who have had both say the shingles vaccine is as bad or worse than the mRNA COVID vaccines as far as making you feel bad for a day or two afterward.”
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The shingles vaccine is at the moment administered as a one-time, lifetime dose with no boosters beneficial later in life for these vaccinated at round age 50, Edwards famous.
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Experts agree it’s greatest for every particular person to debate a vaccine plan along with his or her main care doctor.
Hills added, “Some people may be at higher risk and may need to get these vaccines earlier or may need other vaccines as well.”
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