As we enter the peak of flu and COVID season, there have been some recent changes to vaccine recommendations for people over 50.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently lowered the age pneumonia vaccines Up to age 15.

Instead of recommending the pneumococcal vaccine to those aged 65 and over, vaccination is now recommended from the age of 50.

Tuberculosis Surpasses Covid as the World’s Deadliest Infectious Disease

D., a surgeon and assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. “Anyone over the age of 50 should consider vaccinations because as we get older, our immune system can become more vulnerable,” Susannah Hills told Fox News Digital.

He said it is important to consider personal risk when choosing which vaccines to receive.

Read on the Fox News App

“Is there anything underlying? health conditions Like diabetes, immunodeficiency or cancer? “If so, getting vaccinated becomes even more important.”

Health Officials Confirm Pig Catches Bird Flu for the First Time

Fox News Digital gathered insights from several infectious disease experts to help people 50 and older follow vaccine guidance for their age group.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older, including those 50 and older, get a flu vaccine every year.

Dr. Jennifer Dunphy, public health The doctor in Los Angeles, California, noted that the flu vaccine is known to significantly reduce deaths and hospitalizations (from 40% to 52%) in the population aged 50 and over.

“It is recommended that you get the vaccine in late summer, preferably in September, before weather changes and viruses become more prevalent,” he told Fox News Digital.

Common side effects include body aches and low-grade fever, the doctor said.

“In some cases, there are very rare but more serious side effects that can affect the nervous system,” Dunphy said.

“The benefits of the vaccine for most people over the age of 50 will outweigh any risks, but vaccination is recommended.” talk to your doctor“

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older be vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive an updated vaccine each year, usually in the fall before the end of October.

The agency also recommends people 65 and older receive their second dose of the vaccine.

Flu and Covid Vaccines: Should We Get Both at the Same Time?

Infectious diseases specialist at UH Rainbow Babies, Dr. “Along with influenza and RSV, COVID is part of a triad of respiratory viruses that cause high rates of hospitalization and death in older adults, with risk increasing with advancing age,” Amy Edwards said. and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, he told Fox News Digital.

for Covid-19 vaccineIt is recommended that people take two full doses at least three weeks apart, followed by annual booster doses, according to Dunphy.

He said the boosters were designed to be effective against the most current strain of the virus.

“The COVID vaccine works to increase the development of antibodies that fight against exposure turning into infection and infection turning into serious infection,” he said.

“Side effects may vary but are mostly mild, flu-like symptoms“

Some serious side effects have been associated with COVID vaccines, including anaphylactic shock, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), or pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart), according to the CDC.

Pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine is recommended for children under 5 years of age and adults aged 50 and over.

This is an update to previous guidance that called for adults 65 and older to be vaccinated.

Vaccination Exemptions Are Increasing Among Kindergarten Students, According to CDC Reports

This one-shot vaccine is designed to protect against bacterial infections that can cause pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis.

The agency recommends that all adults age 50 and older who have never been vaccinated receive one of the three available vaccines (PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21). pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or those who are unsure of their vaccination history.

“The rate of hospitalization and death from pneumonia goes up at age 50, and it goes up even more at age 65,” Edwards told Fox News Digital.

“Usually adults are advised to take a single dose, but some high-risk adults may be given a dose every five years.”

He stated that the side effects of this vaccine are generally minimal.

Fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, or redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness at the injection site are some possible side effects, according to the CDC.

The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine helps protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Receives FDA Approval for Home Use: ‘A Good Alternative’

Whooping cough, more commonly known as whooping cough, is on the rise in the United States in 2024, with more than five times as many cases reported at the same time last year.

“All adults should get a tetanus vaccine every 10 years because this is the longest-lasting protection,” Edwards said. he advised.

“Vaccination against whooping cough is sometimes recommended for some older adults, especially those who will be spending a lot of time with the illness. small children (grandchildren), because babies are at such a high risk of dying from whooping cough.”

The CDC noted that the most common side effects after the Tdap vaccine are mild fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site.

Adults should talk to their doctor about whether this vaccine is necessary.

According to the CDC, adults ages 50 and older are recommended to receive two doses of Shingrix, the shingles vaccine, two to six months apart.

The vaccine protects against a condition called herpes zoster, more commonly known as shingles.

The infection causes a painful rash. varicella-zoster virusIt can cause nerve damage, chronic nerve pain and sometimes brain inflammation, according to Edwards.

“Shingles becomes more common with each decade past age 50,” he said.

“This vaccine tends to be a little harsh due to the high rates of fever and body aches,” Edwards cautioned.

“Many people who have gotten both say the shingles vaccine is as bad as the mRNA COVID vaccines or bad enough to make you feel bad for a day or two afterwards.”

Click to Subscribe to our Health Bulletin

The shingles vaccine is currently administered as a one-time, lifelong dose, and no booster later in life is recommended for those vaccinated around age 50, Edwards noted.

For more Health articles visit: www.foxnews.com/health

Experts agree it’s best for everyone to discuss something vaccination plan with your primary care physician.

“Some people may be at higher risk and may need to get these vaccines sooner or may need other vaccines as well,” Hills said. he added.

Original article source: Doctors say everyone over 50 should get these 5 vaccines