A GUIDE TO SEASONAL FLU FOR SENIORS

When winter rolls around, the weather begins to change, you start to get in the holiday spirit. Nothing can spoil the Christmas mood except her evil majesty Influenza.

While the flu shares symptoms with the common cold—sore throat, cough, and a runny nose—it can result in far more devastating consequences. This is especially true among seniors, who can experience hospitalization or even worse. Between 2010 and 2019, 336,000 people died of the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

But thanks to vaccines and other approaches, the flu is preventable. So let’s discuss exactly what the flu is, what it looks like, how it spreads, and how seniors can protect themselves from the virus.

What Is The Flu?

The “flu” (short for influenza) is a respiratory illness that can onset mildly or severely and can result in hospitalization or death. It is caused by the influenza virus, which can infect humans and almost every other mammal and bird on the planet. This allows it to spread across the world with relative ease.

Types of Influenza Viruses:

Influenza A

The most common type of the virus, which causes basically all of the flu epidemics (localized outbreaks of a disease) and pandemics (global outbreaks of a disease) around the world. This type of flu can infect humans and animals (like pigs), and it is often found in wild birds as well, which carry the disease across continents.

Influenza B

Along with influenza A, influenza B, which lies behind about 20 percent of flu infections, causes almost all cases of the flu every year. This strand only survives in humans.

Influenza C

The mildest of the three main forms of influenza viruses, influenza C is passed around among humans and swine. No epidemics are caused by influenza C, which explains why it’s not prevented with a flu vaccine.

Symptoms
Once contracted, the flu affects your nose, throat, and occasionally dives down into your lungs. Symptoms of the flu include:

• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Constant cough
• Headaches
• Muscle cramps or aches
• Fever (for seniors, a body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit), though this may not always occur
• Stomach issues that may result in diarrhea or vomiting

Causes Of The Flu And How It Spreads
The flu is caused by various influenza virus strains, which you contract in different life situations.

It is highly contagious, and a person can get infected within six feet radius while breathing the virus in, kissing, touching doorknobs and handles, coming in contact with unclean silverware, etc.

Importance of Vaccination

Demographically, seniors are  the most affected group.

According to CDC report, 70-85 percent of people who die from seasonal flu infections are over the age of 65, and up to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations involve seniors. Whereas vaccinated people over the age of 50 were found to be 57 percent less likely to be hospitalized from the flu than non-vaccinated people. The hospitalization rates were similar for people over the age of 75, as well. 

How And Where To Get Vaccinated?

While most adults are fine with receiving a standard-dose flu shot, seniors may need vaccines that are tailored to their immune systems:

High-Dose Flu Shots

Seniors need a higher dose of the flu vaccine because of their weakened immune systems. The shot also features higher levels of antigens—antibodies that activate an immune response—to help your body combat the flu should it enter your system.

Flu Shots With Adjuvant

Adjuvant, according to the CDC, is “an ingredient added to a vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination.” These types of flu shots were found to be far more effective at helping seniors create an immune response to the flu than shots without adjuvant.

While these shots may be tailored for seniors, the CDC says there is no specific recommendation for which shot seniors should take, whether it be the high-dose shot, the option with adjuvant, or a regular-dose option. There are other types of vaccines, including a nasal spray and an intradermal shot, which are not recommended.

Any doctor or health care professional should be able to distribute the flu vaccine. Some places you can get a flu shot include:

• A doctor’s office
• A pharmacy like CVS, Walgreens, or Rite-Aid
• A blood-testing lab

Flu vaccines should be covered by your insurance and Medicare. Under the Affordable Care Act, private insurers must cover preventative care like flu shots. Flu shots are also covered under Medicare B provision. As long as your doctor doesn’t charge more than Medicare covers, the shot should be completely free.

Possible Side Effects Of Vaccination

After getting the shot, you may feel mild or moderate pain where the vaccine was injected. There is also the potential—albeit pretty rare—that you will get a fever as a result of the shot. This does not mean you have the flu, and the fever will subside. Other rare, but noteworthy, side effects include:

• Allergic reactions
• Problems breathing
• An increased heart rate
• Dizziness

You will not get the flu from receiving the flu vaccine.

Should Anyone Not Get Vaccinated?

The CDC recommends that every senior physically capable of getting the flu shot should get one, except for those who:

• Have had allergic reactions to the shot in the past
• Have a high fever, though it’s suggested they get one once the fever subsides

Seniors with allergies to eggs are still recommended to get the vaccine, even though many flu vaccines contain an egg protein called ovalbumin. Doctors are suggested to watch the patient for 30 minutes to see if the shot causes any allergic reactions, but after that time period, the person with the allergy receiving the shot should be clear of any allergic reactions.

How To Prevent The Flu

The best way to prevent getting the flu is by getting the vaccines, even though only about 60 percent of vaccinations are effective, according to NPR. There are plenty of other preventative steps seniors can take in order to reduce their chances of catching the influenza virus. These steps include:

• Leading a healthy lifestyle: As we’ve seen, seniors’ immune systems become less effective as they age. There are things to be done to help combat that, though, including eating properly and exercising. Beyond that, there are day-to-day activities like being consistent with your hand washing and keeping a clean and sanitized living space that can help kill viruses and stop the spreading of the disease.

• Get other vaccines: The flu vaccine certainly helps prevent getting the flu, but what if you actually get it? There are a slew of other health concerns that can develop after catching the influenza virus. There are various vaccines you can get to help prevent these advanced issues, which can include pneumonia and meningitis.

• Seek immediate help if you’re feeling ill: Not only does this help you address immediate health concerns—whether they end up being the flu or not—it also helps you know if you’re contagious so you can take preventative steps from spreading the virus. You can call out of work, sanitize your living space where other people may come in contact with the virus, and make sure you drink extra fluids to stay hydrated.