Get your flu shot now

 For adults 65 years of age and older, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that Quadrivalent High-Dose should be used over Quadrivalent-Standard Dose, given the burden of influenza A(H3N2) disease affecting older adults and the good evidence of better protection of Trivalent-High Dose compared to Trivalent-Standard Dose in adults 65 years of age and older.

Any of the available influenza vaccines would be preferable to remaining unvaccinated or requesting individuals to return for vaccine. Therefore, in the absence of a specific product, NACI recommends that any of the available influenza vaccines authorized for this age group should be used.

There is only one high-dose Quadrivalent Influenza vaccine currently authorized for use in Canada by NACI. (IIV4-HD or Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent)

There is good evidence that Fluzone High-Dose provides superior protection compared with standard-dose TIV in the elderly (Grade A Evidence); 2) there is fair evidence that the MF59-adjuvanted Fluad (that will be provided to those over 65 in BC) may be effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization for influenza and influenza complications in the elderly compared to unvaccinated individuals (Grade B Evidence).

Coles Notes Version:

• High-Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine has 4 times the antigen of a standard dose vaccine to account for “immunosenescence”. (weakening of the immune system over time)

• This superior protection (greater than 24% over the standard dose) increases with those much older than 65 and with pre-existing underlying chronic conditions. (protection for an 80 yr old is about 37% better than standard dose)

• The NACI recommends High-Dose Quadrivalent (IIV4-HD) compared with the standard dose for adults 65 years (2022/2023)

• Unfortunately, the BC government, is only going to offer a TRI-valent influenza vaccine (IIV3-Adj) (covering 3 strains) for seniors to be announced in October 2022. Other provinces: AB, SK, ON, NB, PE, YK will offer the recommended NACI High-Dose QUADrivalent (IIV4-HD) (covering 4 strains) for free for ALL those over 65 years of age. Again, seniors in BC are being short-changed in their health. Did our BC Ministry of Health not learn anything during COVID about caring for seniors?

Those seniors over 65 in long-term care or assisted living residences, or First Nations will receive the NACI-recommended High-Dose Quadrivalent (IIV4-HD) at no cost. (The Federal government is paying for it.) Those seniors still living on their own will have to pay between $75 to $90 for this vaccine as the BC government is only providing the Fluad Trivalent for free. In other words, most seniors throughout the province will be charged a fee to receive the NACI-recommended Influenza vaccine—or choose the free Fluad vaccine. If they lived in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Ontario it would be FREE.

 

Give me your BEST shot! Seniors are worth it. Let’s keep seniors out of hospitals.

Here It Comes! Get Ready for Influenza Season

My thanks to the Tri-Cities Senior Action Society for this information.

What is Influenza and Why Is It Important for Seniors?

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza A and B viruses in humans and can cause mild to severe illness, which can result in hospitalization or death. Certain populations, such as young children, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions, may be at higher risk for serious influenza complications such as viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, and worsening of underlying medical conditions.

Older Canadians suffer disproportionately from influenza-related morbidity and mortality. And account for about 70% of hospitalizations and 90% of deaths …due to Influenza.

In Canada, influenza generally occurs every year in the late fall and winter months

Potential complications of Influenza can include direct respiratory effects such as asthma & COPD exacerbations, ear & sinus infections, and bronchitis and pneumonia.

74% of Canadians report having at least one of the following chronic conditions: arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, a mood disorder other than depression and stroke.

Influenza contributes to mortality among patients with underlying lung or chronic heart diseases.

For persons aged 65 years and over, the risk for influenza-attributed death was

5X greater among those with chronic heart diseases

12X greater among those with chronic lung diseases

20X greater among those with both chronic heart and lung conditions

Pneumonia and Influenza are leading causes of catastrophic disability, behind stroke and congestive heart failure  

What was found over the last six months from the southern hemisphere? Looking to Australia for statistics and input helps researchers develop the best vaccine matches for the northern hemisphere.

97.4% of influenza A(H1N1) and 93.3% of influenza A(H3N2) were the main strains found.

This year, Influenza burden exceeded the 5-year average.

The typical peak of laboratory-confirmed influenza is August to September, but this year was EARLIER in May and June and was larger.

Influenza-related hospitalizations decreased in July which can probably be attributed to a good match of the Influenza vaccine.

Based on this early data, Canadians must receive their flu vaccines as soon as possible, preferably with vaccines with the most evidence for benefit. Usually the peak “flu season” in BC is December and January but can be expected to be in October and November. Why? Most people have let their guard down and are not wearing masks, not social distancing, and are not washing their hands as they were in early COVID times.

The added hospitalizations from influenza and influenza-related illnesses will put further stresses on health-care resources—hospitals and staffs—and will have further societal and economic consequences.

Vaccines don't save lives.

Vaccinations do.

They're safe, they're effective, and   they're rolling out now. Check with your health authority to see when you can book your flu shot.

Tips to live longer

 Here are some tips on h to make it to 100 and a half

1.     Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight, and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."

2.     Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.     Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer’s.

4.     Enjoy the simple things.

5.     Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6.     The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.

7.     Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8.     Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9.     Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country but not to where the guilt is.

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And always remember:

Life not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. - Author Unknown

How Old Are You?

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we were kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you are so excited about aging that you think in fractions: “I'm four and a half!" You're never 36 and a half, you are four and a half going on five! That’s the key.

Then you hit your teens, and now they can't hold you back. You jump a few months ahead or a few years ahead.

“I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of becoming 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony You BECOME 21. YES!

You turn 30. Ooh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He turned; we had to throw him out. He is no fun now; you're just a sour dumpling know What's changed?

You become 21, you turn 30, then you're pushing 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you reach 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait! You make it to 60. You didn't think you would! So, you become 21, turn 30, push 40, reach 50 and make it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you hit 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you hit Wednesday!

You get into your 8os, and every day is a complete cycle; you hit lunch; you turn 4:30; you reach bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards. "I was just 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!

            May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half."