Protecting the elderly from influenza in the context of immune system senescence. Elderly aged 65 and over are vulnerable to influenza and its associated complications.: Position paper by the Romanian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics.

Abstract

Influenza affects millions globally each year, often causing severe complications, hospitalizations, and deaths, particularly among the elderly. As the global population ages, infections will pose a growing health risk. Annual vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. After the age of 65, people suffering from chronic diseases become the majority of this population category. All the data support that most of the population over 65 years old, whose immune system goes through immunosenescence, presents multimorbidity, requiring age-appropriate anti-influenza protection. The immune response to the traditional influenza vaccine has been proven to be lower in the elderly, highlighting the need for a more immunogenic vaccine specifically tailored to the elderly population group. Therefore, high-dose (HD) influenza vaccines have demonstrated their safety and are more effective in preventing influenza and its associated complications compared to standard-dose (SD) vaccines in the elderly in the context of immunosenescence. These recommendations focus on the safety, effectiveness, and efficacy of HD influenza vaccines, adapted to the elderly and available on the Romanian market, to increase the vaccination rate and, thus, protect against influenza infection and its complications. Therefore, strategies such as increased accessibility and free immunizations, as well as ensuring that flu vaccines for the elderly are prescribed without restrictions based on the number of comorbidities, should be used.