By Henrylito D. Tacio
“Getting old is like climbing a mountain,” said three-time Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman once. “You get a little out of breath,” she added, “but the view is much better.”
Sophia Loren, the first Italian actress to win an Oscar, also said, “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
Here’s what famous columnist Ann Landers wrote: “At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.”
A burgeoning elderly population needs vaccination
No one can escape the aging process. The Commission on Population estimated that in 2018 we already breached 8 million senior citizens (those who are 60 years and above). The figure is projected to balloon to 19.6 million by 2040.
“Our immune functions begin to deteriorate as we age,” said Dr. Regina B. Pascua-Berba, an infectious disease specialist and head of the Hospital Infection Control Unit of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
This is the reason why senior citizens must be vaccinated. Those who are at least 60 years old, there are five vaccines which are highly recommended for them; these are influenza, pneumococcal 23, pneumococcal 13, Tdap or Td, and shingles.
“A healthy immune system should be able to defend our body against invading bugs,” she explained. “It is composed of several types of cells which first recognize foreign entities which are potentially harmful, then fight against them.”
Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases, before they come into contact with them.
“A vaccine is a safe chemical given to a person so that enough antibodies become available or are produced to make you have a strong defense against some dangerous infections,” Dr. Barba said.
The body’s response to vaccines is specific. “If you are given an influenza vaccine, the antibodies you develop would be able to recognize and ward off the influenza germs when you are exposed to them in the future,” she said.
According to Dr. Barba, to make these antibodies, vaccine shots should contain any of the following to initiate the cascade of protective processes: either 1) a dead or inactivated bug, 2) a weakened virus or bacteria, 3) a protein or sugar from the germ, or 4) a toxoid, which is chemically modified toxin from a harmful microorganism.
Dr. Barba suggested that adults should be vaccinated regularly. “Immunization schedules are important,” she said. “Most of us don’t realize that not only were vaccines needed when we were babies, they can be especially important as we grow older.”
Let’s take a closer look at those recommended vaccines for senior citizens:
Influenza vaccine
Influenza or flu – locally known as trangkaso – is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.
People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms: cough, sore throat, fever or feeling feverish/chills, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though it is more common in children than adults.
Latest studies show 71% to 85% of flu-related deaths have occurred in people over the age of 65. Influenza vaccines have been shown to prevent the occurrence of influenza and influenza-like illnesses.
Circulating strains of influenza change every year, so it is important that you get a flu shot every year before the expected flu season. “Surveillance of influenza in the country starts to show marked increase in flu cases from June all the way to October, and a second rise from January to March,” Dr. Barba said.
Although the flu vaccine is safe, she said that those who develop allergic reactions from it should not get future annual flu shots anymore.
“Aside from vaccination, handwashing and frequent use of alcohol plus respiratory etiquette or covering your mouth when you are coughing and sneezing are good ways to prevent transmission of the virus,” Dr. Barba said.
Pneumonia vaccines
Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill the air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.
The signs and symptoms may include: cough (which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus), fever with sweating and shaking chills, shortness of breath, rapid and shallow breathing, sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough, and loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue.
There are two vaccines available: the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13) and the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Both are called pneumococcal vaccines because both protect senior citizens from developing frequently encountered infections due to a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae.
“The two vaccines together cover a broader range of serotypes of the bacteria,” Dr. Barba said. One dose of each of the two vaccines is recommended for adults over the age of 50.
“The PCV 13 provides lifetime protection while PPSV23 should be repeated every 5 years,” Dr. Barba said. “If you are younger than 50, but have certain chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease or asthma, or you have a weakened immune system, you should also get a pneumococcal vaccine earlier than 50.”
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) or Td (Tetanus-diphtheria)
Adults may have received it as a young child. It used to be called DPT. Unlike many other countries where tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis have become rare, these infections continue to be a health threat in the country.
Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. Spores of tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust and manure. The spores develop into bacteria when they enter the body.
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxins. It can lead to difficulty breathing, heart rhythm problems, and even death.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. In many people, it’s marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop.”
All three are vaccine-preventable. You may have received the initial complete series of three injections as a baby, recommended at ages 2 months, 4 months and 8 months. “But immunity fades over time, necessitating a booster dose every 10 years,” Dr. Barba said.
“Adults who have not been vaccinated, or are incomplete in the primary series, should receive the complete primary series that include at least one dose of Tdap,” Dr. Barba continued. “Td must be given every 10 years.”
Herpes zoster vaccine
This is the other name of shingles vaccine. It is given to protect you from getting shingles, a painful, usually itchy, rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clear up within 2 to 4 weeks.
Shingles is the reactivation of the same virus that caused the primary chickenpox. “Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles, but the risk of shingles increases as you get older,” Dr. Barba said. “The Herpes zoster vaccine reduces risk for occurrence of shingles.”
Elderly persons 60 years old and older should be given shingles vaccine. There are two kinds of varicella zoster vaccines. “The live attenuated zoster vaccine is given as a single dose and is the one that is currently available,” Dr. Barba said. “This vaccine is recommended for immunocompetent adults 60 years and older.”
The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine is given in 2 doses, 2-6 months apart. “Discuss with your doctor which kind is the better vaccine for you,” Dr. Barba suggested. – ###
