Flu Shots On The Elderly Population: A Case Study

In the U.S. the CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people to have the flu vaccination once a year. Anyone over the age of six months or a weak immune system. The flu vaccine is the best way to keep yourself and your family safe from getting the flu. It has also been proven to decrease the amount of deaths yearly and prevent the

According to a research done by Dr. H. Fudenberg, an immunogeneticist, individuals who were regularly vaccinated with the flu shot, had an increased risk of Alzheimer’s by 10 times. This is a result, as the doctor elaborates, of the toxic

Every fall season we hear the question; did you get your flu shot yet? It is supposed to protect you from that nasty flu virus that circulates our communities during the fall and winter months. But, did you know that in 2011 the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Adverse Event Reporting Systems Website (AERS) reported 51 deaths caused by the flu vaccine in the United States (U.S.) (CDC,2012). According to National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), as of July 2012 there have been more than 84,000 reports of adverse reactions, 1000 vaccine related deaths and over 1600 cases of Guillain- Barre syndrome, a acute form of paralysis, triggered by the vaccine (NVIC.ORG).

Alzheimer’s disease is nothing we can control. Unfortunately, this disease is a progressive, devastating brain illness that causes cognitive decline, including memory, language and thinking problems; which also happens to have no current cure even after all the years of trying to find one. “It is unknown what causes Alzheimer’s disease but older age and family history appear to play a role.” (Shu, 2011) Not only do age and family history play a factor in Alzheimer’s Disease, changes to the immune system can also play a part. However, throughout the years of our knowledge of Alzheimer’s, there have been many claims that the influenza vaccination (flu shot) increases the risk of getting this disease. This has caused a great deal of worry in many people, mostly elders. They’re not sure if they should get the vaccine, or if their loved ones with dementia should continue to get the vaccination. However, before this claim was made, numerous people were getting the influenza

* Pneumonia: Pneumonia is the fifth highest killer of older adults, especially during the winter months of flu season. At high risk are seniors with chronic disease such as diabetes heart disease and reparatory conditions. The flu and pneumonia shot are recommended for all adults over the age 55 to help prevent this killer.

One large reason to geth the flu shot is the fact that the Center of Disease control reccomends that everyone get a flu shot. Their statement on this issue is that, "Health experts now recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against influenza." Just knowing that the Center of Disease Control agrees should make it easier for everyone to want to get a flue shot. To say that getting a flu shot is unhealthy is simply ignoring the facts. Some more examples of the benefits of the Flu shot are,

According to Papatya Tankut—RPh Vice President of Pharmacy Affairs at CVS health—“Getting a flu shot is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from getting the flu” (A). Most people underestimate the importance of the flu shot even though it is the best thing someone can do to stay healthy. It allows for people's body to identify influenza so it knows how to fight back incase it has to face the flu. With this, it is also never too late for someone to receive the flu vaccine. The CCD recommends to receive the influenza vaccine as soon as it is released for flu season; however, it is still beneficial to get the vaccine as long as the disease is circulating (C). Throughout the flu season, there are many opportunities to receive the flu and become sick. Even getting the influenza vaccine during the second half of flu season helps protect your body from that point until flu season ends. By families receiving the flu shot at the beginning of the season or towards the middle or end, the influenza vaccine helps people become more immune to the

The immune system weakens with age, which makes seniors more susceptible to contracting seasonal influenza. Over ninety percent of deaths from the flu happen to those over 65 years of age. Seniors have the option of getting the regular flu vaccine or a higher-dose shot that results in a stronger immune response.

In recent years encouragement to get flu shots has become a yearly mantra. Elderly, children six months to two years, health care workers and immune-deficient people are urged in the strongest terms to go to their doctors or clinics and get a flu shot. This group encompasses about 98 million people. In the fall of 2004 this was in the forefront of American and to some extent the Western World media with the shortage of this flu seasons vaccine. Current medical wisdom states that flu shots are safe, effective and prevent mortality. A recent study published by The Journal of the American Medicine Association (JAMA) has brought the current wisdom into question. On February 14, 2005 JAMA

The flu shot has been debated upon for years. Is it dangerous or beneficial to one’s health? The shot supposedly has mercury and many other harmful items that most people are not aware of, but other people argue the shot is necessary.

Many people don’t know how dangerous the flu can really be, and bad it can truly affect you. During the months September through November many places near you provide care where they can give influenza shots. The cost of one injections does not compare to what forty six days on the ECMO machine cost. The twenty dollar shot is nothing compared to a twenty million dollar hospital bill. The flu may sound simple, but it’s actually a lot more than perceived. By not only getting the shot protects you but also protects

Referring to question 2, it is unfortunate that the son of the elderly client were non-compliant in taking the flu shot despite teaching. However, people sometime are negative or dismiss information that has been given to them, because of barriers. Barriers such as reading and writing can be a major obstacle in teaching a person who cannot read or write. Therefore, it is important as nurses not only to assess the health status of an individual; we should also assess their knowledge and understanding to know how much they know about the diseases/treatment. Beagley (2011), believes that “assessing and evaluating the learning needs of the patient are essential before planning and implementation of an educational plan” (p. 331). The US department

The 2013-2014 flu season. As of February 8, 2014, an estimated 60% of hospital admissions as a result of ILI had transpired in people between the ages of 18-64. Additionally, 22% of documented ILI hospitalizations among women between the ages of 15-44 (childbearing age) had transpired among those who were pregnant. Results of the weekly report displayed significant levels of protection associated with vaccination in those 18-64. Initial calculations for the 2013-2014 flu season demonstrated that as of the middle of November, a mere 34% of persons between the ages of 18-64 had received the vaccine in comparison to 41% of young children (6 months-17). Among persons aged 65 and older 62% received the vaccine.6

Each year in the United States, 3000–49,000 influenza associated deaths occur, with over 90% reported among older adults aged 65 years or older. Influenza also results in an estimated 226,000 hospitalizations, with hospitalization rates among older adults increasing over the past 2 decades (Nace et al., 2015). Influenza is a highly transmissible viral illness that may lead to severe complications from underlying diseases, primary viral or secondary bacterial pneumonia and death (NCBI, 2015). Immunization is one of the most powerful and cost effective interventions against

Savings when vaccines are used are is visible with the report. Finally, vaccines increase the life expectancy because it protects people from diseases. “Elderly individuals given influenza vaccine in the USA had approximately 20% less chance of suffering cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and 50% lower risk of mortality from all causes compared to their unvaccinated counterparts” (Andre, et al., 2008).