What flu shot should seniors get?
Influenza vaccines are a safe and effective way to help people stay healthy, prevent illness and even save lives. As people age, they may be at higher risk of complications from influenza. For this reason, seniors age 65 years and older are advised to get an inactivated influenza vaccine or flu shot each year.
What is the difference between senior flu shot and regular flu shot?
In response to a regular flu shot, older people produce 50% to 75% fewer antibodies, which protect against the vaccine antigens, than do younger adults. Studies have found higher antibody levels in older adults who received high-dose flu vaccines than in those who received standard-dose flu vaccines.
Who should get the quadrivalent flu vaccine?
The high-dose quadrivalent vaccine (Fluzone) is designed specifically for people ages 65 and older. Flu-related complications increase with age because older individuals have a weaker immune system. Fluzone contains four times the amount of flu virus antigen as a standard-dose shot.
Are there different strengths of flu shots for seniors?
If You’re Age 65 and Older The choices include the regular flu shot (standard dose of the trivalent), the high-dose flu shot (double dose of trivalent), the quadrivalent flu shot (a new four-strain version) and the egg-free shot called Flucelvax.
Is Flublok good for seniors?
Furthermore, Flublok Quadrivalent is the first and only high antigen-content quadrivalent flu vaccine that, with its high efficacy, makes it ideal for older adults and those with a compromised immune system.
Are there two different flu shots this year?
For 2020-2021, all flu vaccines except one are quadrivalent. The only trivalent flu vaccine available this year is Fluad, an adjuvant vaccine for people aged 65+. (Confusingly, Fluad is available this year in both trivalent and quadrivalent forms.)
Can the over 65 flu shot make you sick?
The most common side-effect of the flu shot is arm soreness, and sometimes redness. People do sometimes report body aches, fever, or cough after the flu shot.
Can the senior flu shot make you tired?
Some side effects that may occur from a flu shot include soreness, redness, and/or swelling where the shot was given, headache (low grade), fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Is Flublok stronger than fluzone?
The amount of antigen in Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent is four times higher than the amount of antigen in standard flu vaccines, such as Fluzone Quadrivalent and Flublok. This high amount is meant to provide a stronger immune system response in older people, who may have a higher risk of the flu and its complications.