Which vaccination is routinely recommended for adults over 65 years old?

The pneumococcal vaccine is routinely recommended for adults over 65 years old because this age group is at a significantly higher risk for pneumococcal disease, which can lead to serious conditions such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that adults aged 65 and older receive the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or Prevnar 13) followed by the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23 or Pneumovax 23) for optimal protection against these diseases.

This vaccination strategy is crucial since the immune response to infections tends to diminish with age, making older adults more susceptible to complications from infections that the pneumococcal vaccine can help prevent. In addition to age, factors such as chronic health conditions and lifestyle factors, like smoking, further increase their risk.

In contrast, while the hepatitis B vaccine, Tdap booster, and human papillomavirus vaccine have their own specific recommendations and benefits, they are not routinely highlighted for the general adult population over 65 in terms of essential vaccinations. The focus on the pneumococcal vaccine reflects the specific health needs of older adults in preventing severe infections associated with pneumonia