National Immunization Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccines for people of all ages. Our focus for this post will be vaccines recommended for adults.

Flu Shot
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Some people, such as those 65 years and older, young children, and people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, are at higher risk of serious flu complications. There are two main types of influenza (flu) viruses: types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people (human influenza viruses) are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year.

The best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications is by getting vaccinated each year.

The recommended timing of flu vaccination is always September and October, for most people.

Flu viruses are constantly changing. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee and updated as needed to best match the flu viruses research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

How well flu vaccine works can depend in part on the match between the vaccine viruses and circulating viruses. Preliminary estimates show that last season, people who were vaccinated against flu were about 40% to 70% less likely to be hospitalized because of flu illness or related complications.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. The RSV vaccine can help prevent lower respiratory tract disease which is caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms of RSV infection may include runny nose, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, or wheezing. In most cases of RSV, people recover in a week or two, but RSV can worsen other medical conditions such as asthma, pulmonary diseases, or congestive heart failure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 60,000- 160,000 adults aged 65 and older are hospitalized due to RSV. RSV can affect anyone, but it can be especially serious for infants and older adults. Infants and older adults with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, or who are living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, are at the highest risk of serious illness and complications.

RSV is spread through direct contact. This could include droplets from another person’s cough or sneeze contacting your eyes, nose, or mouth. It can also be spread by touching an infected surface, such as a doorknob, and then touching your face before washing your hands.

There have been two new breakthroughs in RSV vaccinations for adults over the age of 60. As of May 3, 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Arexy, the world’s first RSV vaccine, to protect adults 60 years and older. On May 31, 2023, a second vaccination, Abrysvo, was approved.

Arexvy
Arexvy is a single injection that prevents lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by an RSV infection in adults 60 years or older. In clinical trials, Arexvy had a 94.6% success rate in participants that had at least one under-lying health condition.

Abrysvo
Abryvo is a single injection vaccine that helps to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in adults aged 60 and older. In clinical trials, Abrsyvo had a 85.7% success rate in reducing the risk of patients contracting RSV LRT disease with three or more symptoms.

Shingrix
Did you have chicken pox as a child? If you said yes, you may be at an increased risk of developing shingles as an adult. Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which stays in your body for the rest of your life. If the virus reactivates, it appears as shingles, a painful rash that can appear anywhere on your body.

Shingles is not life-threatening, but it can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful. There is also a risk of complications with shingles which could include vision loss, neurological problems, skin infections, and postherpetic neuralgia, when shingles pain lasts even after blisters have subsided. The good news is shingles is easily preventable with the Shingrix vaccine.

The Shingrix vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older or adults 19 and older who have a weakened immune system. Shingrix is a vaccine which provides strong protection against shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. Shingrix is given as a two-dose series. For most people, the second dose should be given two to six months after the first dose. Numerous studies have shown approximately 85 to 90% effectiveness in preventing herpes zoster virus as compared to those receiving a placebo.

Pneumovax
Pneumococcal disease refers to any illness caused by pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can cause many types of illnesses, including pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs. Pneumococcal bacteria are one of the most common causes of pneumonia. Besides pneumonia, pneumococcal bacteria can also cause: ear infections, sinus infections meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord), bacteremia (bloodstream infection.) Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but children under 2 years of age, people with certain medical conditions, adults 65 years or older, and cigarette smokers are at the highest risk.

PPSV23 protects against 23 types of bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease. Most people need only one dose of PPSV23. A second dose of PPSV23, and another type of pneumococcal vaccine called PCV13, are recommended for certain high-risk groups. Your health care provider can give you more information. People 65 years or older should get a dose of PPSV23 even if they have already gotten one or more doses of the vaccine before they turned 65.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/spotlights/2022-2023/flu-vaccination-recommendations-adopted.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/rsv.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/media/167805/download
https://www.fda.gov/media/168889/download?attachment https://gskpro.com/content/dam/global/hcpportal/en_US/Prescribing_Information/Shingrix/pdf/SHINGRIX.PDF
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/ppv.pdf