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<h2>Vaccines for the Elderly Provide Benefits Both in Disease Prevention and Severity Reduction</h2>
The appropriate and necessary vaccines for the elderly include the influenza vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine, shingles vaccine, and pneumonia vaccine. If the elderly receive all the vaccines completely, it will help reduce the chance of infection leading to illness, or if infected, it will reduce the severity of the disease, decrease complications that may be life-threatening, and also help reduce medical treatment costs.
<h2>4 Important Vaccines for the Elderly</h2>
<ul>
<li>Influenza Vaccine</li>
</ul>
Getting the influenza virus vaccine is currently the best method to prevent the disease. It is a quadrivalent influenza vaccine, which includes 
2 strains of type A and 2 strains of type B, making it more effective in disease prevention. However, since the influenza virus strains change seasonally every year, for effective prevention, Thai people should get the influenza vaccine annually, especially during the “pre-monsoon season”, which is the peak outbreak period, to build continuous immunity. It also helps reduce severity and prevent influenza outbreaks during the COVID-19 virus situation.
<ul>
<li>Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus Vaccine</li>
</ul>
This is a basic vaccine that protects against 3 diseases: diphtheria and pertussis, which are common contagious diseases in children, and tetanus, which can occur in all ages due to contamination of tetanus bacteria in the environment and soil. Vaccination is not just for children; people of all ages still need booster vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Diphtheria is a serious contagious disease caused by diphtheria infection, which is present in the saliva, phlegm, or nasal mucus of patients. It spreads easily through breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The incubation period is about 1-7 days. Infection can cause complications such as myocarditis and neuritis.</li>
<li>Pertussis is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the pertussis bacteria found in the throat of patients in the early stage. The incubation period is about 7-14 days. It spreads through direct contact with secretions from the infected person. Infants and young children are at the highest risk of complications, which can be life-threatening.</li>
<li>Tetanus is caused by toxins from tetanus bacteria found commonly in the environment such as soil, grass, and animal feces. It thrives in oxygen-free environments. Most cases have a history of wounds such as nail punctures, thorn pricks, or animal bites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Shingles Vaccine</li>
</ul>
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Generally, elderly people have had chickenpox since childhood. Even after recovery, the virus remains dormant in the body. As age increases or the body weakens, this virus can cause shingles. Those at risk for shingles are everyone who has had chickenpox, but the risk increases in the elderly and immunocompromised patients. Common complications include burning pain along the nerve lines after shingles (postherpetic neuralgia), which can last weeks or months and is more frequent and severe in older adults. If it affects the eyes, it can cause vision loss. The shingles vaccine is recommended starting at age 60 and above, given as a single dose with no need for a booster.
<ul>
<li>Pneumonia Vaccines PREVNAR-13 and PNEUMOVAX-23</li>
</ul>
Pneumonia is a contagious disease commonly found in the elderly. It can occur year-round but often spreads heavily during weather changes such as the rainy and winter seasons because many people catch colds and have weakened immunity, making them more susceptible to illness. Most patients contract the disease from other infected individuals. Therefore, this disease poses a special risk to people living in crowded communities. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the disease and the patient&#8217;s physical condition. Those with underlying diseases or other illnesses tend to have more severe symptoms than healthy individuals. Thus, vaccination against pneumonia is the best preventive method to reduce the severity of pneumonia, lung infection, and complications from bloodstream infections.
Recommendation: Receive the PREVNAR-13 pneumonia vaccine first, followed by the PNEUMOVAX-23 pneumonia vaccine at least 1 year later to boost immunity with one additional dose.
<a style="color: #00826a;" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/187QUiVHFIN6-lj9xTWJ9ZHOFbKF-rM0M/view?usp=sharing">Click</a> for vaccination guidelines for adults and the elderly

Vaccines necessary for the elderly include the influenza vaccine, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccine, shingles vaccine, and pneumonia vaccine. Receiving vaccines helps reduce the severity of diseases and complications that may be life-threatening.

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Vaccines for the Elderly: Benefits That Are Greater Than You Think

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