Elderly people should get vaccinated for flu, pneumonia: AIIMS
New Delhi: Doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) suggested that people above the age of 60 years should get themselves vaccinated against flu and pneumonia.
AIIMS Geriatric Medicine department, HOD, Dr A B Dey said pneumonia and respiratory infections are one of the leading causes of ICU admissions for elderly people which requires ventilatory support.
"There is no awareness about vaccination in adults. Most people associate vaccination with childhood and are do not know about the flu or pneumococcal vaccines which elderly should take to guard against respiratory infections," AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said.
Guleria said vaccine provides almost 70?80 per cent immunity against seasonal flu, if the strain of virus in circulation is matched.
However, in case the virus mutates, the vaccination can still provide up to 40 per cent immunity and reduce the severity of symptoms, he said.
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