4 Vaccines That Can Save Your Life!

In my last post we talked about the importance of the flu vaccine for seniors. So, I am happy to report that I got my flu shot this past weekend.  Did you get yours?

In total, there are 4 life-saving vaccines that all seniors need.  Vaccines are especially important for older adults. As we get older, our immune systems weaken and it can be more difficult to fight off infections. More importantly, we are more likely to have complications that can lead to long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death. And if we have on-going health issues such as diabetes or heart disease, not getting vaccinated can mean it’s our last rodeo. Don’t take that chance!

The 4 life-saving vaccines every senior needs

1. The Annual Flu Vaccine. Older adults should get the flu shot every year.  Many, many of people who die or are hospitalized with the flu are seniors.
2. Shingles Vaccine, which protects against shingles and the complications from the disease. The CDC recommends this vaccine for healthy adults age 50 years and older.
3. Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine, which protects against pneumococcal disease, including infections in the lungs and bloodstream. The CDC recommends this for all adults 65 and over.
4. Tdap shot or booster (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). If you’ve never had a booster shot, or it’s been a coon’s age since you did, get one now. The CDC recommends a booster against tetanus, pertussis and diphtheria every 10 years.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

The Flu Vaccine

I dedicated a whole post to the importance of getting the flu vaccine.  You can read it here.

Pneumococcal Pneumonia

This illness is nasty stuff!  My poor cousin has had Pneumococcal Pneumonia several times over the past few years.  It lands him in the hospital every time.  He has diabetes and his immune system is frail, but Pneumococcal Pneumonia just ravages him.  Last year he spent 6 months in and out of the hospital with it.  It got so bad he required infusions of antibiotics 3 times a day.  He was so sick, and so miserable. He’s doing better now, but we were afraid we were going to lose him this time. 

Pneumococcal Pneumonia has a big ole target on seniors backs.  Being older makes you more likely to get not only pneumonia, but also blood infections, or meningitis from the pneumococcal bacteria. There are two vaccines — PCV13 (Prevnar 13) and PPSV23 (Pneumovax 23) — can protect you against pneumococcal disease. The CDC recommends that all adults 65 and older have both shots, a year apart, with PCV13 first.  Pneumococcal pneumonia can cause death!  Per the CDC, Pneumococcal disease kills more people in the U.S. each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. Combined!!! The CDC estimates that Pneumococcal disease kills about 18,000 adults 65 and older each year. Don’t be one of them.

Shingles

Shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster, can make a grown man cry.  This incredibly painful condition is especially common in older folks.  It is a painful, itchy rash that runs along nerve lines. If you had the chicken pox, and if you are a Baby Boomer it’s very likely you did, the shingles virus is already inside you. It’s lying dormant just waiting to be awakened and pounce when your immune system is weakened by stress, medication or disease.  And it’s contagious. 

The CDC estimates that 1 out of every 3 people in the US will develop shingles in their lifetime.  And the risk increases as we get older.  By age 85, half of all adults will have had at least one outbreak of the virus. The red, painful, itchy, oozing blisters usually last for 10 days to 2 weeks, but for about 20% of the unlucky souls who come down with Shingles, the nerve pain can last for months. 

My cousin with the Pneumococcal Pneumonia above, needed someone to take care of him when he was released from the hospital.  His sister, who is a few years younger, volunteered to help nurse him back to health.  She took care of him, cooked for him, give him his infusions and other meds, and all while working full time.  Well, this summer she was so exhausted and stressed from taking care of her brother at night and working all day that she came down with Shingles.  That was in July.  Its October now and she’s still not completely over it. She had her Pneumococcal Pneumonia shot, but didn’t think to get the Shingles vaccine.  Don’t be like my cousins.  Save yourself the unnecessary pain and suffering. Get your vaccines now.

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine or booster

So far, none of my family has come down with any of these this year, but let’s knock on wood to keep it that way.  However, I am very familiar with the tetanus shot.  It’s warm here in Texas and we like to walk around barefoot.  ‘Nuff said.

You know that commercial where Grandma turns into the Big Bad Wolf while holding her grandbaby?  That’s pertussis.  Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory-tract infection that can be life-threatening for children younger than 12 months. And yes, you can have it and show little to no symptoms. It takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to become fully effective, so get it now if you will be seeing family for the holidays.  Lastly, even if you won’t get the vaccine for yourself, get the vaccine for your grandbabies. You do not want to be the reason the babies need to go to the ER!

Cost

Don’t let anxiety about the cost of these vaccines keep you from getting them.  They are covered by most insurance and Medicare if you fall in the recommended age groups.  Per the CDC, all Health Insurance Marketplace plans and most other private insurance plans must cover certain vaccines without charging a copayment or coinsurance when provided by an in-network provider. This is true even for patients who have not met a yearly deductible.  Medicare Part B will pay for Influenza (the flu) and Pneumococcal Pneumonia.  Depending upon your supplemental Medicare plan, you likely have coverage for Shingles and Tdap.  When in doubt, check with your insurance carrier.