We can do more to reduce flu deaths among older Canadians

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Browse through the health news today and you will see many reports about dangerous infectious diseases such as COVID-19, MPOX and avian influenza. But there is another virus that has been around for more than a century and continues to be a constant threat, especially for older people: influenza.

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Some people still think that the flu is not that serious or that it is just a bad cold. In fact, it is a common cause of pneumonia, and together influenza and pneumonia are the eighth leading cause of death in Canada, with people aged 65 and older accounting for 46% of influenza-related hospitalizations and 76% of influenza-related deaths. .

Many of these hospitalizations and deaths could be prevented with a more concerted effort to increase vaccination rates among the most vulnerable populations, by better communicating the importance of getting a seasonal flu shot tailored to their specific needs, and by that the vaccination process has become as convenient and as cost-effective as possible.

A recent survey I conducted through the National Institute on Aging (NIA) highlights the importance of health care providers offering information about vaccinations, including the special types of vaccines available for older adults whose immune systems may have weakened as they age. More than 82% of older Canadians who responded to the survey said their healthcare provider’s opinion is an important part of their decision when it comes to getting a flu shot.

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The survey also confirms that these life-saving conversations may also impact older adults’ knowledge of the types of flu shots available, including enhanced influenza vaccines (EIV), which are specifically designed to provide better protection to older patients. For example, 29% of older Canadians told NIA they were unaware there were flu shots specifically designed for people 65 and older.

All physicians in training learn about the routine childhood immunization schedule and share this information with patients who are new or expectant parents. But our health care system doesn’t always remind people about the essential vaccinations they’ll need later in life.

To increase awareness, the NIA recently published Vaccine Guidelines for Older Canadians. Available in 18 languages, it explains the importance of vaccines for healthy aging and provides information on the six essential vaccinations every older Canadian should receive, including the annual seasonal flu shot. Patients can share this convenient and important resource with their doctor, pharmacist, or local health care provider to discuss their personal vaccination schedule.

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Of course, this is only part of the solution. We also need to ensure that improved influenza vaccines are readily available, that their cost is covered by provincial or territorial health plans, and that patients know that they can be safely administered at the same time as other required vaccines.

There is something to work on here too. For example, the NIA study found that only 58% of older Canadians who received a seasonal flu vaccine last year received it at the same time as another vaccine. Those who did not say this was either because they were not offered another vaccine, because they did not know they could get other vaccines at the same time, or thought that giving more than one vaccine at a time would reduce the effectiveness of the flu vaccine (this not so). T).

I know that my elderly patients’ top priority is to maintain their independence and health for as long as possible. We can help them achieve these goals by increasing efforts to educate patients and health care providers about the importance of vaccines, encouraging health care providers to discuss vaccination opportunities for older adults, and making vaccinations widely available in a variety of health care settings.

When we made COVID-19 vaccinations available at multiple locations and free of charge, we achieved a 97% vaccination rate among seniors. Of course, we can do the same with seasonal flu and other important vaccines for this age group, especially for patients who do not have a family doctor.

-Doctor. Samir Sinha is director of geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto, and director of health policy research at the National Institute on Aging.

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