Flu in Older Adults: What You Need to Know

When many of us hear about influenza, we often brush it off. "It's just the flu," nothing a little rest and hydration can't cure. But, assuming that the flu won't be serious can have huge consequences. For thousands of people each flu season, contracting influenza can lead to severe complications, which can cause hospitalization or even death. Despite the limited circulation of flu across the U.S. during the 2021-22 season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that influenza caused approximately 9 million flu illnesses, 100,000 flu hospitalizations and 5,000 flu-related deaths.  

While flu season happens every year, the risk that it poses to you can change over the course of your life. This seasonal virus can appear mild for some; however, older adults and those with chronic health conditions can experience serious and even life-threatening complications.In recent years, it's been estimated that between 70-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths and about 50-70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occurred among people 65 years and older. 

By understanding your risk, you can take steps to better protect yourself, your peers and your loved ones from the flu.  

Regardless of our general health state, our immune system ages; meaning, as we grow older, so does our immune system. This age-related immune system decline, or immunosenescence impacts our ability to respond to infections like the flu and the vaccines designed to help us fight it. Several key aspects of immune response are altered by aging, including T cells, which help protect the body from infection and can help fight illnesses, as well as natural killer (NK) cells. When these cells are impacted, it can impair the ways our bodies respond to infection and vaccination.

With this, it can be even harder for older adults to mount a sufficient immune response to infectious diseases like the flu.

Increasing age, as well as the weakening of the immune system due to other concomitant diseases, can further increase the risk of developing broader health issues, like cardiovascular events, aggravation of underlying conditions and vulnerability to additional infections, if you were to get the flu.Within the first two weeks of infection, older adults experience 3-5 times the risk of heart attack and 2-3 times the risk of stroke. Together, this adds up to a six-times higher risk of dying from the flu and its complications in comparison to adults under 65 years of age.

Even though recent flu seasons have been more mild than other years due to COVID-19 related health precautions,the 2022-2023 flu season was more severe as these measures eased up. Given this, it's more important than ever to take precautionary measures against the flu to protect your health. 

To avoid the flu, prevention is key. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual influenza vaccination as the most effective way to avoid infection and avoid serious flu-related complications, especially for older adults who are at a higher risk of illness and severe consequences.The flu vaccine's ability to protect you depends on several factors, including how well the vaccines match the circulating virus and personal characteristics such as your age and health status.Even though effectiveness can vary, the CDC reports that vaccination reduces the risk of the flu between 40-60% among the overall population during flu seasons when circulating viruses are well-matched to those used to make vaccines

In addition to getting vaccinated, you can help stop the spread of flu with personal health habits, including:

• Regular hand washing with proper drying of the hands 
• Good respiratory hygiene — covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, using tissues and disposing of them correctly 
• Early self-isolation when feeling unwell, feverish and having other symptoms of the flu 
• Avoiding close contact with sick people 
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth 

While everyone should take measures to prevent the flu, this is especially important if you are 65 and older. If you fall in this age group, speak with your doctor about your options, as you may be able to receive a vaccination preferentially recommended for you.For more information on the flu, visit National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging.

By CSL Seqirus

CSL Seqirus is part of CSL (ASX:CSL). As one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world, CSL Seqirus is a major contributor to the prevention of influenza globally and a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness. With state-of-the-art production facilities in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, and leading R&D capabilities, CSL Seqirus utilizes egg, cell and adjuvant technologies to offer a broad portfolio of differentiated influenza vaccines in more than 20 countries around the world. For more information about CSL Seqirus, visit CSLSeqirus.com