Flu vaccination for the elderly

Old age is a time when immunity gradually weakens, chronic diseases and metabolic disorders are acquired, which makes patients more vulnerable to various infections. This is especially true in relation to severe complications after the flu, which can lead to hospitalization, and in some cases to death.

Many elderly people believe that the flu is not dangerous for them due to the fact that they rarely leave the house, rarely visit crowded places. But you can get infected even in the nearest store, during visits of children or grandchildren, as well as in a polyclinic.

The flu virus leads to the fact that all organs work "in tension". The work of healthy organs is restored a few months after the flu. But the work of organs that were affected before the onset of the flu may not recover. An elderly person with coronary heart disease after the flu may be hospitalized with a heart attack, and a patient with hypertension, even while taking effective medications, may die from a stroke.

Given the fact that elderly patients are at risk, they are vaccinated among the first. But it is important that they get vaccinated before the start of the epidemic season, so that the body has time to form immunity to infection. The optimal period for flu vaccinations is the period from September to November. Special preparation for vaccination is not necessary. Vaccination is carried out against the background of ongoing treatment outside the stage of exacerbation of a chronic disease. Vaccination against influenza is recommended to be carried out simultaneously with immunization against pneumococcal infection. Then the protection is even higher and the risk of complications in the form of pneumonia is reduced to zero.

Timely vaccination will help to maintain health, which means to leave more time for a full life and communication with loved ones!