Shot in the ARM

Vaccination is a vital component of routine preventive health. But vaccines are not just for kids! It’s important to know that older adults, who are highly susceptible to diseases and associated complications, can also benefit greatly from them. Dr Falguni Parikh, consultant - internal medicine, Adult Immunisation Clinic, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, answers some frequently asked questions about adult immunisation.

Why do we need vaccination for silvers?

Older adults and people with weakened immune systems (like those undergoing cancer treatment) are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases. Vaccines greatly reduce the risk of infection by working with the body’s natural defences to safely develop immunity to disease. The diseases that vaccines prevent can be dangerous, even deadly.

Which diseases can be prevented with vaccines in older adults?

These include influenza (flu); shingles (herpes zoster); pneumococcal disease (pneumonia); diphtheria; tetanus; and pertussis (whooping cough).

How do vaccines work?

Vaccines help develop immunity by imitating an infection. This type of infection, however, does not cause illness but causes the immune system to produce specific white blood cells and antibodies to fight the infection. It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce these after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person who was infected with a disease just before or just after vaccination could develop symptoms and get a disease, because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.

Why is the flu vaccine recommended for silvers?