THE Covid-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons. As the Covid-19 vaccines roll out globally, we are more than ever aware of how vulnerable the elderly are, especially those who have chronic health conditions. Similar to Covid-19, influenza hits them the hardest.
Most people think that vaccines are only for children, but the truth is that flu vaccines benefit people of all ages by protecting them against the many flu strains that circulate annually.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies pregnant women, children below the age of 5 and older persons 65 and above, as well those with chronic conditions, as high-risk groups.
With only 2% of Malaysians being vaccinated against flu, this means the majority of people here, including older persons, are left unprotected.
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”block” ihc_mb_who=”unreg” ihc_mb_template=”3″ ]In light of these recommendations, many households contain at least one high-risk individual, such as older adults with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease, as well as grandparents helping to look after their grandchildren.
“Essentially, this means that many Malaysians are not protected against the flu, and have the potential to infect others, such as working adults who are exposed and then bring the virus home to their children and elderly parents,” explains Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi Chairman of the Malaysian Influenza Working Group (MIWG) and Professor of Medical Microbiology at University Putra Malaysia (UPM).
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) reports that most deaths occur amongst the elderly above 75 years old, and Southeast Asia is ranked third amongst the world’s highest in flu mortality, which means that the elderly who get sick with the flu are more likely to experience severe sickness, complications like pneumonia, hospitalisation and death.
“The situation facing our elderly is particularly relevant during this pandemic. Both Covid-19 and the flu are respiratory diseases and easily spread through infected droplets, and both are known to be more dangerous among elderly populations,” said Prof Zamberi. “As it’s possible to get infected with flu and Covid-19 at the same time, this means that elderly people face twice the risk, so long as they remain unvaccinated.”
This is why medical organisations such as MIWG strongly advocate that vaccination for older persons should be made a priority. This would help to break the chain of infection, prevent serious illness and complications, reduce the need for hospitalization and allow healthcare resources to be maximised.
In this day and age, many people are still hesitant about flu vaccines, questioning their safety and efficacy. However, numerous studies have consistently shown that flu vaccines are safe, well-tolerated in most age groups and no flu vaccination-related deaths have been reported in Malaysia to date.
In fact, annual flu vaccination in older persons aged 50 and above are associated with lower flu hospitalisation rates, flu-related complications, and fatalities. Furthermore, many elderly persons also suffer from chronic conditions which could be made worse if they get the flu.
“The flu can have a very significant impact on people with chronic conditions. Among heart patients, it can trigger heart attacks due to the stress the infection places on the heart; those with diabetes could experience dangerous elevations of blood glucose levels; and serious infections can cause kidney disease.
“Millions of Malaysians suffer at least one chronic condition – approximately 3.5 million have diabetes and 6.1 million have hypertension. In one study involving over 35,000 older adults with chronic conditions, influenza vaccination reduced death rates from stroke, diabetes and heart disease by 65%, 55% and 22% respectively,” says Prof Zamberi.
In contrast, the flu vaccine has also been shown to help heart disease patients lower their risk of a major cardiovascular event, diabetes patients to reduce the likelihood of dying from a heart attack or stroke and elderly with chronic kidney disease to have a lower risk of hospitalisation due to heart failure.
Similarly, people with asthma see a reduced frequency of respiratory illness, asthma attacks and other influenza-related asthma complications while those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a reduction in the number of exacerbations, hospitalisations, outpatient visits, and all-cause and respiratory mortality.
“Despite all the evidence, many elderly people don’t see the need for vaccination. There are also potential challenges that the elderly face, such as the lack of mobility or transport and having to be dependent on others to see the doctor. Similarly, some adult children don’t see the urgency of protecting their elderly parents from the flu,” said Prof Zamberi.
“This is why healthcare professionals like myself and others who are advocates for flu vaccinations are constantly trying to spread awareness, so that more people will take the necessary steps to protect themselves.”
Healthcare professionals across various specialties’ agree that flu vaccinations for the elderly are essential. The recently published Position Paper On Influenza Vaccination In The Elderly by MIWG and Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine (MSGM), endorsed by 32 medical organisations and NGOs, recommends annual flu vaccines for those aged 50 years and above.
Prof Zamberi reminds that the annual flu vaccination is an act of love, as it also protects family members and annual vaccination remains the best way to prevent infection.
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