Why Your CommunityNeeds Flu Vaccinations

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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 PharMerica@pharmerica.com

or 855-637-1755 to learn more.