‘Tis the season for respiratory illnesses — the flu, COVID, and RSV — for which vaccinations offer the best line of defense for the vast majority of individuals.
In addition to the protections that vaccines provide for these diseases, studies have shown that there are two other significant benefits from receiving a flu shot.
A recent study has indicated that for older Americans, there is a strong correlation between flu vaccinations and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The study revealed that the high-dose flu shot, which is specifically recommended for those over 65, can reduce the risk of developing those debilitating diseases by up to 40%.
This finding comes on top of studies that have demonstrated the benefits of an annual flu shot for our hearts and cardiovascular system.
We urge our readers to look past the political noise and misinformation surrounding vaccines. The flu, COVID, and RSV account for tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations annually in the United States.
Vaccinations not only protect us directly from respiratory illnesses, but they also have additional benefits for our aging bodies. A day or two of muscle soreness is a small price to pay for the life-saving protections that these vaccines will provide.