The American Lung Association started a campaign to inform people about the value of vaccinations in preventing respiratory illnesses. Especially for those who are at high risk for health complications, vaccines are the best way to help protect people against severe illness, hospitalization, and even death from a variety of illnesses, such as influenza (flu), COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia, pertussis (whooping cough), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Every year, millions of Americans suffer from respiratory ailments, with some occurrences of seasonal viruses usually reaching their peak between October and March. According to preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), during the respiratory virus season of 2024–2025, there were up to 82 million cases of the flu alone, leading to up to 37 million medical visits, up to 1.3 million hospitalizations, and between 127,000 and 130,000 deaths. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine avoided 5,300 in-hospital fatalities, 13,000 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and 68,000 hospitalizations during the 2023–2024 respiratory season.
“Immunization is especially important for older adults and individuals with certain health conditions who are at increased risk of severe illness, complications, and hospitalization from these vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases,” stated Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Not getting vaccinated puts you, your family, and your neighbors at risk for severe disease.”
Vaccines help prepare the body to fight off pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, since you cannot forecast the severity of a sickness or the amount of time it will take to recover from a disease, vaccination-induced immunity is safer and frequently more durable than immunity that develops after you become ill (also known as “natural immunity”).
Vaccination can prevent respiratory diseases, which put older adults and people with specific medical conditions at higher risk of serious complications. Unvaccinated older adults are more susceptible to hospitalization and potential death from COVID-19, RSV, pneumococcal pneumonia, or the flu. This aspect is because people’s immune systems naturally deteriorate with age, leaving them more vulnerable to illnesses. Additionally, older individuals are more at risk because they frequently have one or more underlying medical disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or other chronic lung diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other pre-existing chronic illnesses can be made worse by respiratory infections, which can result in longer recovery periods and a lower quality of life.
The Lung Association’s new campaign is raising awareness on the importance of these five vaccinations to help protect adults against severe respiratory illness:
- Influenza (flu): Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older, ideally in September/October, though vaccination can continue throughout the season as the flu virus circulates.
- COVID-19: COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone six months and older with shared clinical decision-making, which is a discussion between a patient or caregiver and their healthcare provider.
- RSV: Adults ages 50-74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease and adults age 75 and older should receive a single vaccine if they have not received one previously; additional doses are not recommended.
- Pertussis (whooping cough): Tdap is a combination vaccine that provides protection against pertussis and is recommended for all adults. A Tdap vaccine can be given at any time of the year and is especially important for adults living with asthma or COPD, who are at higher risk for complications.
- Pneumococcal pneumonia: Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for adults age 19-49 with certain chronic health conditions or risk factors and all adults age 50 and older.
To ensure that they are up-to-date on their prescribed immunizations, pregnant women and those with impaired immune systems should speak with their healthcare provider.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
