Medical Dialogues
  • Dermatology
Login Register
This site is intended for healthcare professionals only
Login Register
  • MD Brand Connect
  • Vaccine Hub
  • MDTV
    • Breaking News
    • Medical News Today
    • Health News Today
    • Latest
    • Journal Club
    • Medico Legal Update
    • Latest Webinars
    • MD Shorts
    • Health Dialogues
  • Fact Check
  • Health Dialogues
Medical Dialogues
  • Medical News & Guidelines
      • Anesthesiology
      • Cardiology and CTVS
      • Critical Care
      • Dentistry
      • Dermatology
      • Diabetes and Endocrinology
      • ENT
      • Gastroenterology
      • Medicine
      • Nephrology
      • Neurology
      • Obstretics-Gynaecology
      • Oncology
      • Ophthalmology
      • Orthopaedics
      • Pediatrics-Neonatology
      • Psychiatry
      • Pulmonology
      • Radiology
      • Surgery
      • Urology
      • Laboratory Medicine
      • Diet
      • Nursing
      • Paramedical
      • Physiotherapy
  • Health news
      • Doctor News
      • Government Policies
      • Hospital & Diagnostics
      • International Health News
      • Medical Organization News
      • Medico Legal News
      • NBE News
      • NMC News
  • Fact Check
      • Bone Health Fact Check
      • Brain Health Fact Check
      • Cancer Related Fact Check
      • Child Care Fact Check
      • Dental and oral health fact check
      • Diabetes and metabolic health fact check
      • Diet and Nutrition Fact Check
      • Eye and ENT Care Fact Check
      • Fitness fact check
      • Gut health fact check
      • Heart health fact check
      • Kidney health fact check
      • Medical education fact check
      • Men's health fact check
      • Respiratory fact check
      • Skin and hair care fact check
      • Vaccine and Immunization fact check
      • Women's health fact check
  • AYUSH
    • Ayurveda
    • Homeopathy
    • Siddha
    • Unani
    • Yoga
  • State News
      • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
      • Andhra Pradesh
      • Arunachal Pradesh
      • Assam
      • Bihar
      • Chandigarh
      • Chattisgarh
      • Dadra and Nagar Haveli
      • Daman and Diu
      • Delhi
      • Goa
      • Gujarat
      • Haryana
      • Himachal Pradesh
      • Jammu & Kashmir
      • Jharkhand
      • Karnataka
      • Kerala
      • Ladakh
      • Lakshadweep
      • Madhya Pradesh
      • Maharashtra
      • Manipur
      • Meghalaya
      • Mizoram
      • Nagaland
      • Odisha
      • Puducherry
      • Punjab
      • Rajasthan
      • Sikkim
      • Tamil Nadu
      • Telangana
      • Tripura
      • Uttar Pradesh
      • Uttrakhand
      • West Bengal
  • Medical Education
      • Ayush Education News
      • Dentistry Education News
      • Medical Admission News
      • Medical Colleges News
      • Medical Courses News
      • Medical Universities News
      • Nursing education News
      • Paramedical Education News
      • Study Abroad
  • Industry
      • Health Investment News
      • Health Startup News
      • Medical Devices News
      • Pharma News
      • Pharmacy Education News
      • Industry Perspective
  • MDTV
      • Health Dialogues MDTV
      • Health News today MDTV
      • Latest Videos MDTV
      • Latest Webinars MDTV
      • MD shorts MDTV
      • Medical News Today MDTV
      • Medico Legal Update MDTV
      • Top Videos MDTV
      • Health Perspectives MDTV
      • Journal Club MDTV
      • Medical Dialogues Show
This site is intended for healthcare professionals only
LoginRegister
Medical Dialogues
LoginRegister
  • Home
  • Medical news & Guidelines
    • Anesthesiology
    • Cardiology and CTVS
    • Critical Care
    • Dentistry
    • Dermatology
    • Diabetes and Endocrinology
    • ENT
    • Gastroenterology
    • Medicine
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstretics-Gynaecology
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Orthopaedics
    • Pediatrics-Neonatology
    • Psychiatry
    • Pulmonology
    • Radiology
    • Surgery
    • Urology
    • Laboratory Medicine
    • Diet
    • Nursing
    • Paramedical
    • Physiotherapy
  • Health news
    • Doctor News
    • Government Policies
    • Hospital & Diagnostics
    • International Health News
    • Medical Organization News
    • Medico Legal News
    • NBE News
    • NMC News
  • Fact Check
    • Bone Health Fact Check
    • Brain Health Fact Check
    • Cancer Related Fact Check
    • Child Care Fact Check
    • Dental and oral health fact check
    • Diabetes and metabolic health fact check
    • Diet and Nutrition Fact Check
    • Eye and ENT Care Fact Check
    • Fitness fact check
    • Gut health fact check
    • Heart health fact check
    • Kidney health fact check
    • Medical education fact check
    • Men's health fact check
    • Respiratory fact check
    • Skin and hair care fact check
    • Vaccine and Immunization fact check
    • Women's health fact check
  • AYUSH
    • Ayurveda
      • Ayurveda Giuidelines
      • Ayurveda News
    • Homeopathy
      • Homeopathy Guidelines
      • Homeopathy News
    • Siddha
      • Siddha Guidelines
      • Siddha News
    • Unani
      • Unani Guidelines
      • Unani News
    • Yoga
      • Yoga Guidelines
      • Yoga News
  • State News
    • Andaman and Nicobar Islands
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Arunachal Pradesh
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chandigarh
    • Chattisgarh
    • Dadra and Nagar Haveli
    • Daman and Diu
    • Delhi
    • Goa
    • Gujarat
    • Haryana
    • Himachal Pradesh
    • Jammu & Kashmir
    • Jharkhand
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Ladakh
    • Lakshadweep
    • Madhya Pradesh
    • Maharashtra
    • Manipur
    • Meghalaya
    • Mizoram
    • Nagaland
    • Odisha
    • Puducherry
    • Punjab
    • Rajasthan
    • Sikkim
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
    • Tripura
    • Uttar Pradesh
    • Uttrakhand
    • West Bengal
  • Medical Education
    • Ayush Education News
    • Dentistry Education News
    • Medical Admission News
    • Medical Colleges News
    • Medical Courses News
    • Medical Universities News
    • Nursing education News
    • Paramedical Education News
    • Study Abroad
  • Industry
    • Health Investment News
    • Health Startup News
    • Medical Devices News
    • Pharma News
      • CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) News
    • Pharmacy Education News
    • Industry Perspective
  • Home
  • Vaccines, Immunization & Inoculation
  • Vaccine Perspective
  • Role of Immunization...

Role of Immunization in Frail and Elderly Individuals - Dr Rajalakshmi A

Dr Rajalakshmi AWritten by Dr Rajalakshmi A Published On 28 Feb 2024 9:50 AM  |  Updated On 28 Feb 2024 9:50 AM
Role of Immunization in Frail and Elderly Individuals - Dr Rajalakshmi A
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • Telegram
  • Email

The increase in life expectancy challenges our society to protect the elderly from morbidity and mortality related to infections, apart from other diseases. Vaccination against certain infections is an important intervention to safeguard this population.

Infections such as influenza and pneumonia are among the top killers of the elderly. Elderly individuals are more prone to severe infections due to immune senescence (ageing and weakening of the immune system).

Severe infections result in hospitalization and even death. Hence, adults aged 65 and older are advised specific vaccines. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this became evident as the elderly and frail population were considered at high risk for severe COVID-19.

During this pandemic, the majority of the world's population, especially the elderly, were vaccinated. There is evidence that vaccination prevented severe disease and death due to COVID-19. Here are some of the vaccines that the elderly and frail are eligible for and should be considered at every opportunity.

Influenza Vaccine

Influenza (flu), caused by a virus, has been a recurring problem, leading to seasonal outbreaks that range from simple respiratory illness to severe diseases requiring hospitalization.

Severe disease is commonly observed among the elderly, particularly those with underlying heart, lung, and other diseases. The influenza vaccine is an important method for preventing severe illness. Flu vaccines need to be administered annually as the strain causing infection changes periodically.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Similar to flu, pneumonia caused by pneumococci, significant bacteria, can be severe, requiring hospital admission, especially among the elderly. Individuals aged more than 65 years, even without any other medical illness, are advised to receive pneumococcal vaccines.

There are two types of pneumonia vaccines, taken sequentially within a few months. If the individual has any other medical condition, the timing of the vaccine can be earlier and as per recommendations.

Shingles Vaccine

A vaccine to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) has been recently approved and is available in India. Shingles is a debilitating disease commonly seen in people aged above 50 years and those with low immunity.

All these individuals will have been previously affected by chickenpox, and shingles is a reactivation of a quiescent virus that can occur at any time during their lifetime, commonly in the elderly.

The problem with shingles is the pain following it, which can persist for many months in some cases. It can also rarely result in visual and neurological complications.

The shingles vaccine is advised for those above 50 years and in immune-compromised individuals, and requires 2 doses. It is also recommended for those who have had shingles to prevent recurrences.

Tdap Vaccine

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) is advised for the elderly who are caring for infants yet to be vaccinated against these diseases and thus lack immunity. Through vaccination of the close contact caring for the baby, the baby is protected, a strategy known as cocooning. Elderly individuals may require additional vaccines based on their medical conditions.

Some vaccines are contraindicated for those who are immunocompromised or experiencing acute illness, while others are essential, depending on medical circumstances. Consulting with your doctor can help determine which vaccines are recommended for you. It's also important to maintain a vaccination record for adults, similar to those for children.

This serves as a valuable health record and serves as a reminder of upcoming vaccinations. Each clinic visit presents an opportunity to discuss disease prevention, with vaccination being a crucial aspect of maintaining health as we age.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.

immunizationimmunization in elderlypneumococcal vaccineshingles vaccinetdap vaccineinfluenza vaccineDr Rajalakshmi A
Dr Rajalakshmi A
Dr Rajalakshmi A

    Dr Rajalakshmi A (MBBS, DNB Medicine, FRCP, Fellowship training in Infectious Diseases, Observer in Transplant Infectious Diseases, CIC, Epidemiology) is a Senior Consultant (Department of Infectious Diseases) at KIMSHEALTH, Trivandrum having over 15 years of experience overall. Her areas of expertise include Infectious diseases - general and special population, Preventive health, vaccination, Antimicrobial stewardship, Hospital infection control and prevention, Training - DNB internal medicine, MRCP IMT residents, nurses interested in infection control.

    Show Full Article
    Next Story

    Editorial

    Azmarda Outperforms Generic Sacubitril/Valsartan in HFrEF Management, says new study

    Azmarda Outperforms Generic Sacubitril/Valsartan in HFrEF Management, says new study

    First Indian Consensus on Managing Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Recommends Vonoprazan

    First Indian Consensus on Managing Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Recommends Vonoprazan

    Re-visiting the Role of Pneumococcal Vaccination in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

    Re-visiting the Role of Pneumococcal Vaccination in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

    Prediabetes and the Mind: Unraveling Cognitive and Mental Health Risks

    Prediabetes and the Mind: Unraveling Cognitive and Mental Health Risks

    Real-World Case study: Darbepoetin Alfa for Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Metastatic Breast Cancer - Dr Aditya Murali

    Real-World Case study: Darbepoetin Alfa for Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Metastatic Breast Cancer...

    View All

    Journal Club Today

    Ajanta Pharma Launches Met-XL D to Improve Outcomes for Heart Failure and Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients

    Ajanta Pharma Launches Met-XL D to Improve Outcomes for Heart Failure and Post-Myocardial Infarction...

    View All

    Health News Today

    Health Bulletin 21/ May/ 2025

    Health Bulletin 21/ May/ 2025

    View All
    © 2022 All Rights Reserved.
    Powered By: Hocalwire
    X
    We use cookies for analytics, advertising and to improve our site. You agree to our use of cookies by continuing to use our site. To know more, see our Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings.Ok