why your community needs flu vaccinations...flu is a highly contagious disease that spreads...
TRANSCRIPT
Why Your CommunityNeeds Flu Vaccinations
Table of Contents2
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Influenza’s Risk to Residents
What You’ll Learn
Types of Flu Vaccinations for Seniors
How to Protect Your Community
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Flu is a highly contagious disease that spreads throughout the country each year. While anyone
can get the flu, it is more dangerous to certain populations, including seniors age 65 and older and
those with certain health conditions or weakened immune system. To help protect against the flu
virus, the CDC recommends everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated every flu season.
Learn how to promote vaccinations in your community and how PharMerica can help.
What You’ll Learn
The most common types of influenza viruses
that infect humans are influenza A, which is
responsible for most outbreaks, and influenza B.
The symptoms of either strain can mimic a cold,
and include cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever,
chills, body aches, headache, and fatigue. But the
illness can cause more serious health issues that
require immediate medical care. According to
the CDC, these can include:
While even healthy people risk complications
from the flu, certain groups face an especially
high threat of serious consequences, including
those over age 65. In fact, according to the
CDC, people ages 65 and older account
for between 50% and 70% of flu-related
hospitalizations and 70% and 85% of flu-related
deaths. Factors that put this population at a
higher risk include:
To protect the elderly population from
contracting the flu, it is recommended that
adults 65 and older get an annual flu vaccine.
Since immunity from vaccination only fully
sets in after two weeks, it is important that
seniors get the vaccine as early in the season
as possible – at least by the end of October.
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or
abdomen
• Persistent dizziness, confusion or inability
to arouse
• Seizures
• Not urinating
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe weakness or unsteadiness
• Fever or cough that improve but then return
or worsen
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions
• A weaker immune system
• Chronic conditions that increase their
susceptibility
• Difficulty in diagnosis because this
population often does not suffer classic
symptoms
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Influenza’s Risk to Residents
Each year, the flu vaccine is specially formulated to protect against what research suggests will be the most
common viruses in the coming season. And there are certain types of vaccines tailored and approved for
use in the senior age group. These include:
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All of these vaccines are considered safe. However, individuals who have had allergic reactions to the
flu vaccine previously, have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or are ill at the time of the vaccination should
talk to their healthcare provider first before getting the flu shot. Moreover, seniors may experience mild
side effects like headaches, muscle aches, or redness around the injection site. These symptoms are only
temporary and will only last one to three days.
• Standard Quadrivalent: This vaccine targets four influenza strains — two influenza A and two
influenza B viruses — for broader coverage.
• High-Dose: This vaccine has four times the amount of antigen (the inactivated virus that promotes a
protective immune response) as a regular flu vaccine and is indicated for those 65 and older due to their
weakened immune systems.
• Adjuvanted: This vaccine for adults 65 and older is made with an adjuvant, an added ingredient that
can cause a stronger immune response than a standard flu shot.
Types of Flu Vaccinations for Seniors
The primary way to help protect your residents is to
encourage everyone to get a flu shot. In addition to
receiving a vaccine at their doctor’s office or local
pharmacy, you can also consider hosting an on-site flu
clinic if your pharmacy partner offers them. Learn about
PharMerica’s clinics that offer up to 18 different vaccines.
Other ways to keep your community from getting the
flu include standard preventative steps such as cleaning
high-touch surfaces and encouraging residents to:
• Wash hands often
• Cover their coughs
• Avoid others who are sick
• Lead a healthy lifestyles by eating properly and
exercising
• Stay up to date on pneumococcal vaccines
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During flu season, communities should also actively
monitor for influenza illness. If a resident has signs
or symptoms of the flu, test for influenza and watch
for signs of an outbreak. If one or more residents
has suspected flu, consider implementing outbreak
control measures.
How to Protect Your Community
As a long-term care pharmacy that specializes in assisted living, PharMerica can help communities overcome challenges with supplement
interactions and improve the quality of resident care.
Contact us at [email protected]
or 855-637-1755 to learn more.