The following are some great information resources Continuum has compiled for you to learn more about what’s new for the 2011/2012 season:

1. Information on Vaccine Selection for 2011/2012 Season. Find out more information on this year’s vaccine from this link to the CDC website.
2. Learn about the New Fluzone High-Dose Vaccine for Seniors. This season, seniors can choose a higher dose vaccine designed specifically for people age 65 and older. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody) contained in regular flu shots.
3. Local Flu Vaccination Center Finder Flu.gov provides this handy tool to find places to receive vaccinations in our local area.

Sources: CDC, Flu.gov

If you have additional questions about whether you or a loved one should pursue immunizations, the team at Continuum would be glad to speak with you as well as refer you to some local resources to obtain vaccinations. Call (314) 863-9912 or (636) 861-3336 for more information about resources, our services, or to schedule a free home consultation!

There are many common misconceptions about flu vaccinations. It is not possible to get influenza from the traditional flu shot. The vaccine is made from a killed virus which is not capable of causing the disease. Influenza vaccine may cause temporary soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site. Some people get mild fever or aches that can last up to one or two days. Pneumococcal vaccine can also cause mild redness or pain where the shot is given. Less than 1% of those who get the shot develop a fever, muscle aches, or more severe local reactions. If considering the nasal spray vaccine, understand that it is a live but weakened virus and is not recommended for adults over 50.

Oftentimes seniors do not get vaccinated because they don’t believe the flu shot works. It is true that the flu vaccine is not 100% effective in preventing flu, and it is possible for some people to still get influenza after taking the flu shot. However, these people usually get a milder case of the flu than they otherwise would get. Here are some more reasons why all seniors should get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia:

• Weakened defenses. Older bodies’ natural defense systems tend to decrease, which places older people at greater risk of flu and pneumonia. Vaccines can ward off or at least weaken the severity of these viruses.
• Protection for friends/family. If a senior gets influenza or pneumonia, those who come in contact with the senior are at risk of catching it. Getting the vaccines can help protect those who are close to seniors and reduce the chance of spreading these diseases.
• It’s free. Medicare pays 100% of the cost of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for Medicare beneficiaries. For people not covered by Medicare, state health departments often offer free vaccines.
• It’s accessible. In most states, immunizations for adults can be administered by pharmacists in a community pharmacy. Many people find this is a convenient way to get their immunizations.

Should you get the flu or pneumonia vaccine? Which flu vaccine should you get? Historically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended three vaccines for older Americans: seasonal influenza, pneumonia and shingles. The pathogens that cause flu or pneumonia can be deadly when manifested in the elderly, and the vaccines are clearly beneficial. Here is a bit of background on each:

• Pneumonia: Pneumococcus, a bacterium that colonizes in the upper respiratory tract, can cause not only pneumonia, but also deadly blood infections, meningitis and earaches. It kills more people in the United States than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. The CDC strongly encourages everyone over 65 to get a one-time shot, which should be effective for the rest of their lives.

• Shingles: Shingles, a rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, is a cruel cousin of the chicken pox. About one-third of all adults will get shingles at some point, and 10 to 18% of those who get shingles will develop a severe pain syndrome caused by nerve inflammation. It can last for weeks or months after the rash has cleared up, and no effective treatment exists for the syndrome. Though there is a vaccine for shingles, less than 2% of those who should get immunized do so. Check with your physician to see if you should be immunized.

• Influenza: For flu, authorities recommend annual vaccinations for everyone over 50 years old.

With the flu season and other seasonal illnesses approaching, it is important to understand the ins and outs of vaccinations for older adults.

• For the elderly, the chance of death from influenza and pneumonia is greater than the risk of death from an automobile accident.
• Of around 32,400 annual American flu-related deaths, 90% are people age 65 and over.
• Of around 52,000 annual American pneumonia-related deaths, the majority are people age 65 and over.
• Of around 225,000 American flu-related hospitalizations, over half occur for people age 65 and over.
• 1.2 million Americans are hospitalized annually with pneumonia.

The flu vaccine can be as much as 70 to 90% effective for healthy seniors; and according to the National Network for Immunization Information, hospital patients who have received the pneumonia vaccine:

• Have a lower incidence of respiratory failure
• Have a lower incidence of kidney failure
• Have a lower incidence of heart attack
• Spend two fewer days in the hospital on average
• Are 40 to 70% less likely to die from complications from pneumococcal bacteremia than unvaccinated patients