Flu shot may not work as well for seniorsFebruary 7th, 2013 in
Medications But, experts still advise older adults to get
vaccinated. (HealthDay)—Seniors seem to get a weaker boost to
their immune system following a flu shot than young people do, a
small study shows. Experts say the findings essentially confirm
what's been believed: The flu shot just doesn't work as well for
older immune systems. But they also caution that the vaccine
remains the best defense against flu misery. Older people are
among those at greatest risk for flu complications, like
pneumonia. Americans older than 65 have been hard-hit during the
current, rough flu season: Late last month, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention said that 98 of every 100,000
seniors were hospitalized with the flu for the week ending Jan.
19. So older adults should keep getting vaccinated every year,
according to Nicholas Kelley, a research associate with the
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the
University of Minnesota, in Minn