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KOMPAS.com – In the midst of the corona pandemic, people aged 65 years and over are at high risk of experiencing serious complications as a result flu than healthy young adults.
Reporting from the official website United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) (15/9/2020), this risk is partly due to changes in the immune system due to increasing age.
Although flu season varies in severity, people 65 and over bear the brunt of the flu.
Therefore, getting the flu vaccine in 2020-2021 is more important, especially in the midst of the corona pandemic.
Flu vaccination is very important for people aged 65 years and over, at this age most of them were hospitalized and died from flu and Covid-19 infections.
Also read: Update on Covid-19 Vaccines Around the World, from Russia to England
Flu vaccine
The best way to protect yourself from flu and potentially serious complications is with the flu vaccine.
The CDC recommends that nearly everyone aged 6 months and over get the seasonal flu vaccine every year at the end of October.
However, as long as the flu virus is circulating, vaccinations should be continued throughout the flu season, even through January or after.
The flu shot is especially important for people aged 65 and over because they are at high risk of serious complications from the flu.
The flu vaccine is updated seasonally as needed to keep up with changes in the virus.
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In addition, this measure becomes important as the immune system weakens each year, so annual vaccinations are needed to ensure the best protection against the flu.
Currently, the flu vaccine for 2020-2021 has been updated from last season’s vaccine to better match the virus in circulation.
According to information from the CDC, immunity from vaccination is fully established after about two weeks.
Because of age-related changes in their immune system, people 65 and older may not respond as well as younger people.
Although immune responses may be lower in the elderly, studies of external icons have consistently found that flu vaccines have been effective in reducing the risk of medical visits and hospitalizations associated with flu.
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Type of flu vaccine for people aged 65 years and over
People aged 65 and over should get the flu shot, not the nasal spray vaccine.
They can get a flu vaccine that is approved for use in their age group without a preference for one vaccine over another.
There are common flu shots that are approved for use in people aged 65 and over and there are also two vaccines specifically designed for certain groups, namely:
a. Side effects of high doses of flu vaccine
A high-dose vaccine and additional flu vaccine can cause more of the temporary, mild side effects that standard-dose seasonal injections can have.
Side effects can include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle aches and malaise, and usually resolve within 1 to 3 days.
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b. Pneumococcal vaccine
People aged 65 years and over should also receive pneumococcal vaccination to protect against pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
Consult with your health care provider to find out which pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for you.
Pneumococcal pneumonia is an example of a serious flu-related complication that can lead to death. You can get the pneumococcal vaccine your provider recommends when you get the flu vaccine.
Precautions
As a precautionary measure, the CDC recommends that people aged 65 years and over avoid people who are sick, cover up coughs, and wash their hands frequently.
Also read: WHO Affirms Covid-19 Vaccine Will Not Be Available Before the End of 2021
Symptoms
Because the elderly a high risk of getting serious flu complications, so if they appear flu symptoms, immediately contact the nearest health care provider.
The CDC recommends appropriate treatment for people suffering from infections influenza or suspected influenza infection and who are at high risk for serious flu complications, including people aged 65 years and over.
The flu symptoms that arise include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue.
Some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea. The person may have the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
Also read: WHO Affirms Covid-19 Vaccine Will Not Be Available This Year, What Can Be Done?
Treatment
If you have symptoms, get treatment immediately because antiviral drugs work best if they are started earlier (within 48 hours of starting symptoms).
To get antiviral drugs, a health care provider needs to write a prescription. These medicines fight the flu by preventing the flu virus from making more viruses in the patient’s body.
Antiviral drugs can make colds lighter and make you feel healthier.
Antiviruses can also prevent serious health problems that can be caused by flu.
It is known, there are four influenza antiviral drugs approved by the FDA (BPOM in the US) recommended by the CDC this season that can be used to treat flu.
Also read: Study: Lung and Heart Damage from Covid-19 Patients Can Be Healed
Infographic: Severe Symptoms of Covid-19
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