A Shot of Good Health

Vaccinations for the elderly is a lesser known fact but one that should be paid attention to. Muskan Mehra finds out why.

Elders may need vaccines to stay healthy and fit

It’s a myth that vaccines are only for children. With increasing age, there is a strong need for elders too to get vaccinated. The prime reason is the lowering of immunity levels due to age. The other factors are medical problems that develop after the age of 60, like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, obesity, arthritis and in the severest of cases, the transplant of organs. Due to this reason, adult immunisation is a lesser known but important factor and requires a lot of attention among senior citizens. While 95 per cent of the children are vaccinated, less than one per cent of adults opt for vaccinations.

The Silent Threat

Pneumonia is the biggest killer in India in the winter season. Recent reports have shown that more than seven lakh senior citizens suffer from it annually and approximately 3.5 lakh deaths are reported every year. A community based study conducted in 2010 involving 7,14,000 people found that among those who had got vaccinated there was a 27 per cent reduction in the risk of hospitalization for pneumonia or influenza and 48 per cent reduction in the risk of death. Pneumonia can be one of the most life-threatening diseases for the elderly as it leads to severe complications and also entails massive hospitalization cost. A vaccine can help not only in saving lives but also help save the unnecessary cost of hospitalization.

Staying Safe

With social obligations becoming an intrinsic part of life, doctors and pulmonologists warn that senior citizens must not take part in mass gatherings, congregations and other public gatherings, as it leads to the spread of bacteria and can affect those with lowered immunity. Dr. Srirang Abkari, Consultant, Internal Medicine at Aware Global Hospitals, Hyderabad explained, “The bacteria tends to work faster as the response time for the elderly is slow. Treatments are found to take a lot of time due to lowered immunity. Accompanying medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle diseases merely complicate the problem.”

According to doctors, winter sees an increase in the number of admissions of senior citizens with fevers and respiratory tract infections because of the weather conditions. Once infected, their stay in the hospital is prolonged and often, there are chances of developing complications like obstructive lung disease or in some cases of loss of lung function.

It is to build immunity that seniors who are addicted to smoking and alcohol are asked to refrain from the same. Dr Mohammed Parvez, Consultant, Critical care and Internal medicine at Mediciti Hospitals, Hyderabad says, “Smoking and alcohol put elders in a high risk zone and it is very important to curb the habit. It lowers immunity further and also does not allow the medicines to work on the patient when infected.”

If already frail, the elderly may have a significant decline in the overall health and mobility with some of them losing their ability to carry out their independent activities on a daily basis.

Prevention is the first step towards protection. Immunization has proved to be an effective tool to save the elderly from several infectious diseases. Vaccines for flu, pneumonia, herpes zoster, Hepatitis A and B and tetanus are some of the recommended vaccines for senior citizens.

Check Before you Take

One also needs to be cautious. Dr H Kishan, general physician of Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad explained, “The flu vaccine is being recommended to senior citizens on a yearly basis but this has to be first ascertained by the doctors. As seniors suffer from various other diseases, the conditions have to be first evaluated and then only immunization taken. The Tdap vaccine is also being suggested to protect from whooping cough.”

So, while vaccines are recommended there may be minimal side effects like fever, headache and also local reactions on the skin. It is very important that senior citizens must disclose all their medical conditions and also allergies if any before opting for these.

Thinking of getting your shot of ‘good health?’ Speak to your doctor and take a call.

 Tips for senior citizens to stay healthy:

1) Avoid mass gatherings

2) Stop smoking and alcohol

3) Opt for vaccination if there are too many complications. (consult a good doctor as there are various set of guidelines based on the pattern of disease)

4) Build on your immunology with nutritious food that can be absorbed by the body.

5) Walk, cycle, practise yoga or indulge in any form of exercise.