Older adults are especially vulnerable to severe complications from flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Protect your older patients against flu and help conserve healthcare resources by giving the flu vaccine. Learn more about how to help protect your older patients from RSV through vaccination and from COVID-19 through vaccination and early treatment.1-3 Information on COVID-19 prevention and treatment can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Download the factsheet for more information on the risks of flu among older adults. Download this factsheet for more information on the risks of COVID-19 among older adults.
Adults age 65 years and older are at greater risk of severe complications from influenza than younger adults, due both to their increased likelihood of having chronic conditions and to the decline of their immune systems with aging.4
Seasonal influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza,5 but vaccination coverage among people age 65 and older in the United States has generally lagged below 70.0%, reaching the highest rate in 2020–2021 at 75.2%.6
However, in the 2021–2022 season, the coverage rate among people age 65 and older declined to 73.9%, and in the 2022–2023 season, the coverage declined further to 69.7%.7,8
Ensure that your high-risk older patients are vaccinated against flu by using the information, tools, and resources provided by 65+ FLU DEFENSE.
1. Flu & people 65 years and older. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/65over.htm 2. Use of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines in adults aged ≥60 years: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7332e1.htm 3. Respiratory viruses and older adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/risk-factors/older-adults.html 4. Call to action: reinvigorating influenza prevention in US Adults age 65 years and older. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. September 2016. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/flu-65.pdf 5. Influenza (flu): preventive actions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm 6. Flu vaccination coverage, United States, 2020–2021 influenza season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/fluvaxview/coverage-by-season/2020-2021.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2021estimates.htm 7. Flu vaccination coverage, United States, 2021–22 influenza season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/fluvaxview/coverage-by-season/2021-2022.html 8. Flu vaccination coverage, United States, 2022–2023 influenza season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 18, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/fluvaxview/coverage-by-season/2022-2023.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-2223estimates.htm