Peninsula Home Care Pushes Patient Education on Two Senior Flu Vaccines During Influenza Awareness Month
Published on - August 16, 2019SALISBURY, MD – It doesn’t discriminate. The flu comes on fast and furious and effects everyone from infants to the elderly. The best way to protect against the flu and its potentially serious complications is with a yearly seasonal flu vaccine. The CDC recommends everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated by the end of October but if flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue throughout the flu season and even into January.
“Influenza can be quite serious for the people we care for because of their age,” said Barbara Murray, Maryland branch director, Peninsula Home Care. “Our team is working proactively to educate our patients and caregivers about the need to stay informed about changing vaccines that are updated each season to keep up with the changing viruses. We also know immunity wanes over a years time so annual vaccinations are needed to ensure the best possible protection against influenza.”
Flu Facts:
- Immunity from vaccination sets in after approximately two weeks
- People 65 years and older should get a flu shot and not a nasal spray vaccine.
- There are regular flu shots approved for people 65 and older and there are two vaccines designed specifically for people 65 and older
Extra Strength for Seniors
A high-dose vaccine called FLUZONE is recommended for those 65 and older. It has four times as much active ingredient as a regular flu shot which means it can do a better job of getting an older immune system up and running.
FLUAD is a standard-dose, three-component inactivated flu vaccine, that contains an adjuvant. An adjuvant is an ingredient added to a vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination. It is manufactured using an egg-based process – like most flu vaccines.
The high dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines may result in more mild side effects over the standard-dose seasonal shots. Mild side effects can include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, headache and muscle ache.
About Peninsula Home Care
Providing skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy for more than 30 years, Peninsula Home Care ensures that all patients are involved in their plan of care and strives to give them every opportunity to maintain their independence in the home. The agency has served more than 50,000 patients in Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties in Maryland and Sussex and Kent counties in Delaware. In 2017, PHC and PHCN were designated as Preferred Home Care Provider by Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Nanticoke Health Services.
