2009 -2010 Flu Season
Frequently Asked Questions - Seniors
Why aren’t people 65 and older recommended to get early doses of H1N1 vaccine?
There are two main reasons why people age 65 and older are not included in the groups recommended to get the initial doses of H1N1 vaccine:
- People age 65 and older are least likely to get sick with this virus, and
- There will be limited amounts of vaccine available at first, so the first doses are recommended to go to those who are most likely to get infected and become very ill.
There has been very little H1N1 illness in people 65 and older since the H1N1 virus emerged. This has been true both in the United States and in the Southern Hemisphere during their flu season. Studies of who is most likely to be infected with H1N1 show that people 65 and older are the least likely to get sick with this virus. Laboratory tests on blood samples indicate that older people are more likely to have some pre-existing immunity to the H1N1 flu virus. Person’s 65 and older are a high priority for seasonal vaccine, just as they have been in past years.
Will people age 65 years and older be able to get the H1N1 vaccine this season?
Yes. The U.S. government has purchased 250 million doses of H1N1 vaccine, so anyone who wants to get the vaccine will have the opportunity to do so. While people 65 and older are not included in the groups recommended to get the earliest doses of vaccine, they can get the H1N1 influenza vaccine as soon as the high risk groups have had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Some communities and providers will offer the H1N1 vaccine to people 65 and over sooner than others, depending on how quickly they meet the needs of the initial prioritized populations.
Should people age 65 and older get the regular flu vaccine this year?
Yes. CDC’s priority for people 65 and older is to have them get their regular, or “seasonal,” flu vaccine as soon as possible while we are waiting for more doses of the H1N1 vaccine. Seasonal flu viruses are expected to circulate along with H1N1 viruses this season. People age 65 and older are at increased risk for complications from seasonal influenza compared to younger people and are recommended for annual seasonal flu vaccines. This year is no exception.
What should people age 65 and older do if they feel like they have the flu?
People age 65 and older should seek medical advice quickly if they develop flu like symptoms this season to see whether they might need medical evaluation and possible treatment with antiviral medications. People 65 and older are prioritized to get antiviral drugs if they become sick with the flu according to CDC’s antiviral guidance this season.
Why are people 65 and older prioritized for antiviral treatment if they get sick with the flu, but they are not in one of the early groups prioritized to get H1N1 vaccine?
People 65 and older are the least likely to be infected with H1N1 flu, but, if they become infected, they are more likely than people in some other groups to develop serious complications from their illness. That is why people 65 years and older are prioritized for treatment with antiviral drugs this season if they do become sick.
Source: The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
Page last updated: 10/20/09