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Cold and flu season is upon us.
While you can’t control the chilly weather or the friend who claims, “It’s just allergies,” you can take steps to help lower your risk for serious illness by getting vaccinated.
Vaccinations are vital in protecting you and your familia from COVID-19, flu, pneumococcal disease, RSV, and shingles.
This is especially important if you are age 50+ or have weakened immune systems.
That’s why CVEEP is helping older adults stay informed about their infectious disease risk and how vaccines can help reduce the risk of health complications.
Let’s take a look at the vaccine recommendations for adults age 50+.
Vaccine Recommendations for Older Adults
For adults age 50+, CDC recommends the COVID-19, flu, pneumococcal, RSV, and shingles vaccines, according to CVEEP.
Flu vaccines are recommended for people age 6 months and older.
In older adults, the flu vaccination can decrease the number of hospital stays, which means lower hospital bills and better health outcomes.
Also, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for older adults with certain health conditions, like diabetes, that can increase their risk of severe illness.
At age 50, the CDC recommends getting a pneumococcal vaccine.
Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria and can lead to an infection, including pneumonia, which can harm mobility, strength, and cognitive function.
CDC also recommends that
adults 50 and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine, given 2 to 6 months apart, according to CVEEP.
Older adults have a high risk of developing shingles, a painful rash that occurs when the chickenpox virus is reactivated after recovering from it years earlier.
Adults age 75 and older should get the RSV vaccine to protect against severe illness.
The RSV vaccine can also be given between ages 50 and 74 based on risk, including those with conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, and weakened immune systems.
See all the vaccine recommendations!
How to Determine If a Vaccine Is Right for You
CVEEP created an interactive tool to help people access their risk for serious illness and determine if a vaccine is right for you.
Based on your results, you can talk to your health provider about vaccines and additional risks based on your age and pre-existing health conditions.
Vaccine Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider
Because of misinformation about vaccines, it’s important to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccines with your healthcare provider.
Asking your doctor questions can help you feel confident about your decision.
Locate a Vaccine Near You
Vaccines are offered by most major pharmacies, clinics, local health departments, and healthcare offices.
You can even schedule an appointment online!
Most of the vaccines can also be given at the same time, so there’s no need to make an additional appointment.
To locate a vaccination center near you, use the CVEEP Vaccine Locator tool.
More Vaccine Tools and Resources
CVEEP has a multitude of tools and resources for adults 50 and older, and any age, in English and Spanish.
There is so much to learn about vaccines, including information on each individual vaccine recommended for your age group and health condition.
Vaccines can help reduce your risk for serious illness, and they can also help decrease long-term health complications that arise from viruses.
One of the biggest long-term risks for older adults is the risk of developing cognitive decline through diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Keeping up to date with vaccinations can help reduce your risk.
To learn how to further reduce dementia and Alzheimer’s risk, discover bilingual community resources that make a difference in the lives of older adults at the San Antonio Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Population Aging and Social Studies (CAPAS).
Register and sign up to receive the latest updates
CVEEP Partnership
Salud America! partners with CVEEP to spread the word about vaccine awareness and the importance of staying up to date on life-saving vaccinations.
Founded in December 2020, CVEEP is committed to protecting health through vaccine education, reducing poor health outcomes for all populations, including Latinos, and ensuring fair access to vaccines for all!
CVEEP is led by the Alliance for Aging Research and others.
To learn more about the organization and how they serve communities visit the CVEEP website.
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