Older adults, young children, and people with certain health conditions are at greater risk for severe respiratory disease. Vaccines provide important protection.
As we age, our immune systems naturally change, becoming less effective at fighting infection and more prone to low-level inflammation.
These changes increase the risk of illness and make older adults more vulnerable to disease.
Aging specifically increases risk for respiratory infections because the cells in our lungs naturally deteriorate and become more easily damaged. This impairs our lungs ability to effectively fight off an infection. Over time, lungs also naturally become more rigid and can’t expand as easily.
When an infection occurs, these changes to our lungs can make it harder for the body to fight it off.8 In addition to having aging immune systems, older adults are also more likely to have underlying health conditions that can further impact their immune function.
These combined factors make it especially important for older adults to stay up-to-date on vaccinations to help protect against serious infections and reduce the risk of severe illnesses.