Senior citizens receiving new vaccines

New vaccines and guidelines recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for senior citizens, will be released in the coming days. The new vaccines include COVID, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and pneumonia. Pfizer, Novavax and Moderna will each put out their updated vaccines for the fall.

Health authorities have worked all year to accelerate the creation and distribution of these vaccines to meet the anticipated wave of COVID and other flu-like diseases coming this fall and winter. CDC recommends getting shots in September or October each year in preparation for cold-inducing weather.

RSV vaccines, like flu and COVID, are not only recommended for those aged 60 to 74 but also for people with chronic diseases, weakened immune systems and certain other medical conditions such as severe diabetes.

CDC said one dose of an RSV vaccine works for at least two winter seasons, unlike the flu vaccine which is needed every year. Adults become eligible to receive an RSV vaccine in late summer and early fall, prior to when RSV typically begins to spread in communities.

There are numerous possible side effects to the vaccine such as pain, redness and swelling where the shot is given. The typical fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea and joint pain symptoms are possible post-vaccine as well.

While the RSV vaccine is for seniors only, the updated COVID vaccine will be eligible for Americans aged 6 months and older. In addition to CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has moved swiftly to authorize the vaccine for peak vaccination season.

Fall 2024 COVID shots will target the KP.2 variant, which is a descendant of the strand JN.1, that prompted the surge of infections last winter. Pfizer and Moderna presented data on shots targeting both KP.2 and JN.1 in June, when the companies began to increase production.

Dr. Amit Shah, Geriatrician at Mayo Clinic Arizona, discussed more information about the vaccines senior citizens should consider getting.