You know you need a flu
shot every year, but that’s not the only needle with your name on it
by Jessica Dysart | May 14, 2019
You know that kids
need a host of shots, but just because you’re long past the pint-sized stage
doesn’t mean you can skip the needle entirely. In fact, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that adults aged 50 and up get four
separate vaccines to protect against illnesses that hit older people
particularly hard.
With flu season at
its peak in January and February, hopefully you’ve already gotten your shot for
this year. But most older people skip the other vaccines, according to CDC research,
which puts them at greater risk for everything from tetanus to pneumonia.
“As we get older, our
immune system isn’t as well-functioning,” says Ada Stewart, M.D., a family
physician in Columbia, S.C., and member of the board of directors of the
American Academy of Family Physicians. That not only increases the danger that
you’ll contract a variety of ailments, but can also raise the risk for the
people you’re in contact with too, Stewart says.
Make sure you’re up
to date on these shots, which—with the exception of the shingles vaccine—will
typically be fully covered by most insurance plans, with no copay or
coinsurance due, as long as you see an in-network provider. Check with your
insurance provider for specific coverage details.
Protect yourself
against shingles
What to ask for: Shingrix, which was
approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year and is more than 90%
effective against shingles and its side effects, according to the CDC.
Who should get it: Anyone 50 or older.
Why you need it: Shingles is a
painful rash with blisters caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Your risk of developing shingles increases with age and if you’ve had
chickenpox. Plus, after having shingles, some people experience long-lasting
and sometimes severe pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which can
persist for months or even years.
What’s involved: Two doses, two to
six months apart.
What else you need to
know:
The CDC recommends you get Shingrix even if you previously got Zostavax, an
older shingles immunization. Ditto if you already had shingles or are not sure
if you had chickenpox.
Most private
insurance plans will fully cover the shingles vaccine as preventive care. But
the rules are different under Medicare, which treats the shot as a prescription
drug, subject to the same coverage and costs as other medicines under Medicare
Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.
If you’re on Medicare
and haven’t yet met your deductible, that could leave you on the hook for the
full cost, typically around $200.
One other important
note: The vaccine has been in short supply lately, so you may have to put your name on a
waiting list with your doctor or pharmacy to receive it. Or you can search here for places in your
area that currently have Shingrix in stock.
Ward off pneumonia and
related diseases
What to ask for: Prevnar 13 (also
known as PCV13) and Pneumovax (PPSV23)—two separate vaccines, which, when
combined, provide greater protection again the pneumococcal bacteria that
cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections than either shot
alone.
Who should get it: Anyone 65 or older.
No matter what your age, you are also a candidate for the vaccine if you have
chronic liver, heart or kidney disease, HIV, diabetes, or alcoholism, or if you
have cochlear implants or have had your spleen removed, Stewart says.
Why you need it: Older adults are
more likely to come down with pneumonia and related illnesses. Once contracted,
they’re also more prone to develop complications that can lead to serious
health problems, hospitalization, and even death.
What’s involved: Two shots, taken a
year apart.
Boost your immunity
to tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis
What to ask for: the Tdap vaccine or a
Td booster shot.
Who should get it: You need the Tdap—a
booster shot for the childhood DTaP vaccine—if you never got the vaccine as a
teenager, especially if you have contact with infants or young children. If you
got a Tdap more than 10 years ago, you need a booster shot for tetanus and
diphtheria only (Td).
What’s involved: A one-time shot for
Tdap, and a Td booster every 10 years.
Why you need it: For people over 50,
the shot can be important to guard against spreading disease to a baby, such as
a grandchild. Infants under six months of age are at the greatest risk of
complications from pertussis, also known as whooping cough, which can be
life-threatening, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What else you need to
know:
After receiving the vaccine, you should wait at least two weeks before you have
any contact with infants, the CDC says.
Get a better flu shot
What to ask for: Any one of three
souped-up vaccines that provide extra protection against the flu. They are
Fluzone High-Dose, which contains four times the amount of antigen (the
substance that prompts your body to make antibodies against the disease) as a
regular flu shot; FLUAD, which helps create a stronger immune response; and
quadrivalent vaccines, which protect against four strains of flu rather than
the usual three.
Who should get it: The CDC recommends
that everyone older than six months get an annual flu shot and that people 65
and older get one of the stronger vaccines.
What’s involved: One shot a year,
which the CDC recommends you get by the end of October.
What if you’re late
to the party? Not to worry.
Getting it a little
late is actually better than the other way around. Some studies show that the
vaccine’s protection starts to wear off in four to six months, especially in
older adults. So if you get the shot too early, the protection may not last the
entire flu season.
Why you need it: When you’re older,
your chances of coming down with the flu are greater and, if you do get it,
you’re likely to get sicker. People 65-plus account for 60% of flu-related
hospitalizations, according to the CDC.
What else you need to
know: Though
it varies from year to year, the regular flu shot is generally only 40% to 60%
effective. Even the new stronger varieties don’t guarantee you won’t get
sick.
Still, some
protection is better than none, says Stewart. “You could walk outside and get
hit by a car, so you walk on the sidewalk to prevent that from happening,” she
says. “It’s the same with the flu shot.”
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