August is National Immunization Awareness Month

Vaccinations aren’t just for the grandkids – they are important for grandparents as well! At the height of the last flu season, influenza and pneumonia accounted for almost 11 percent of deaths among those over age 65. Getting vaccinated can help protect older adults from these illnesses.

Not enough people over 65 are getting vaccinated against flu and pneumonia, despite the efforts of health-care and public health practitioners. What’s more, the rates of vaccination are much lower for African- Americans and Hispanics than they are for whites. The reasons that people don’t get

vaccinated are not entirely clear but may have to do with a lack of understanding about the importance of vaccines, their safety and effectiveness, or how they work. Misconceptions are much more likely with the flu shot than the pneumonia shot. Some people do not perceive the flu as a severe illness, or they falsely believe that the flu shot will give you the flu.

Two health services researchers from LSU Health Shreveport, Drs. Terry Davis and Connie Arnold, worked with a colleague from the Arkansas Department of Health and the National Academy of Medicine to interview health professionals around the country who provide vaccines to seniors and asked them about their successful strategies. They interviewed 23 providers in 11 states – pharmacists, doctors and nurses. Dr. Davis and Dr. Arnold learned that vaccine providers used specific strategies to engage seniors and increase vaccination rates. These providers made getting vaccinated easier and more convenient by taking the vaccines to people where they were – the clinic waiting room, pharmacies, senior centers, health fairs, Friday night football games and other places. They offered simple, clear and personalized information about current vaccines and their benefits. They listened to concerns and answered questions respectfully. Most of all, they worked to build trusting relationships with their patients, customers and the community by showing them that they genuinely cared about them and their health.

Health-care providers in our communities want to help you get the vaccinations you need to stay healthy. Here are some things you should know:

• You don’t have to make a doctor’s appointment to get a flu shot. You can get them at pharmacies or community events. Just remember to tell your doctor that you received the vaccine on your next visit!

• Pneumonia shots aren’t always offered outside of doctor offices or pharmacies. There are two different types. Most older adults are recommended to have one dose of each type, so you should ask your doctor or pharmacist on your next visit which one you might need.

• If you have questions or concerns about the vaccines, be sure to talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They will be happy to explain how vaccines work and address any concerns you have.

• It is likely that Medicare or your insurance provider cover these vaccinations without any cost to you.

There is no good reason to miss out on your yearly flu shot or your pneumonia vaccinations. There are a lot of good reasons to make sure you get them. Remember those grandkids!

Dr. Terry Davis is a professor of medicine and pediatrics at LSU Health Shreveport’s Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. She serves as director of the LA CaTS Health Literacy Core, along with co-director Dr. Connie Arnold, professor of medicine at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Davis has served on health literacy advisory boards for both the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians as well as the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Currently, she is a member of the IOM Health Literacy Roundtable, Healthy People 2020, Health Literacy/Health Communication Section and serves on the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention Expert Panel on Health Literacy.