Health: Seniors Get Better Protection When Younger Adults Get Flu Shots, Research Suggests
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's time for yearly flu shots and new research says senior citizens get better protection when younger adults get vaccinated. Researchers say it's important that everyone gets the flu vaccine to give those at high risk, like the elderly an extra layer of protection.
Flu shots are recommended for everyone over the age of six months. Influenza is especially dangerous, even deadly for the elderly.
The new study from Cleveland Clinic shows the elderly had a 21 percent lower chance of developing flu-related illness when younger people are also vaccinated.
"The elderly were less likely to be diagnosed with the flu if they lived in communities where more young, healthy adults had received the flu vaccine," said Glen Taksler, who led the research for Cleveland Clinic. He says flu shots are often less effective for seniors, that's why it's important for younger healthy adults to be vaccinated. He adds, "Even though an elderly person may be doing everything he or she can to help prevent the flu, they can get an extra benefit from other people in the community also getting vaccinated."
While last year's flu shots were not that effective, this year health officials say they've tweaked the vaccine to include last year's missing strain, which will hopefully provide better protection.
There are several different kinds of flu vaccine, including a high-dose shot designed specifically for people over the age of 65. It creates a stronger immune response for better protection. But doctors say it may also be more likely to cause side effects, including headache, muscle aches and fever.
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