Seniors (Adults 65 Years and Older) and the Flu

Everyone should get the 季節性流感 vaccine as soon as possible.

Adults 65 years and older are not at high risk of getting H1N1（豬）流感. They are not in the initial target groups for vaccination, but may get vaccinated when supplies become available.

Adults 65 years and older are prioritized for antiviral treatment to limit risk of complications if they get flu.

The Seasonal Flu and Seniors (Adults 65 Years and Older)

For older adults, the seasonal flu can be very serious, even deadly. Each year in the U.S., an average of 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from serious flu complications. Ninety percent of flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 and older. Research shows that 30 percent of all Americans age 65 and older don't get an annual flu vaccination.

Getting vaccinated means not only protecting yourself, but not spreading the flu to your spouse, children, or grandchildren. CDC recommends getting the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in your community because it takes the body about two weeks to build up immunity.

However, if you don't get the vaccine early, it's not too late to get it in December and beyond, since flu is most common in January and February; it can even continue into April.

The flu vaccine is safe and effective, and because the influenza viruses in the flu shot are inactive, you can't get influenza from the vaccine.

H1N1 Flu and Seniors (Adults 65 Years and Older)

H1N1 flu is a new flu virus that is spreading in the United States and throughout the world. It is contagious and spreads from person to person. Like seasonal flu, illness in people with H1N1 flu can vary from mild to severe.

Recent studies have shown that about a third of adults 65 years of age and older may have some level of immunity against the H1N1 flu virus. As a result, this group are not among the priority groups to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. Federal guidelines call for the new H1N1 vaccine to be given first to pregnant women, those who live with or care for children 6 months or younger, health care workers, people aged 6 months through 24, and people with certain chronic health problems or compromised immune systems that put them at increased risk for complications from flu.

Adults 65 years and older who wish to be vaccinated, may get the H1N1 flu vaccine after the target groups have been served.

Seniors (adults 65 years and older) are prioritized for antiviral treatment to limit risk of complication if they get flu. While your age means you have a lower risk of getting the flu, certain risk conditions (COPD, diabetes, etc.) mean if you get sick, you may have higher risk of complications from any influenza.

Additional Resources:

FAQs from CDC - Seniors (Adults 65 Years and Older) and the H1N1 flu vaccine

More information on H1N1 flu

More information on vaccination

More information for people with health conditions

Stay both healthy and active. Get Vaccinated!