It all began with a persistent cough.

Karyne Jones found herself hospitalized due to pneumonia in January 2018. Despite the bacteria being eliminated from her system, she spent three months recovering from the lingering effects.

At age 63, she couldn’t receive the vaccine that could have shielded her from pneumococcal pneumonia.

“I was fortunate, but what about those who aren’t in good health?” Jones, now 70, reflected. “It could be devastating for them.”

This age restriction may soon be lifted. A CDC panel met on Wednesday and voted to reduce the age at which older adults are recommended to start receiving the pneumococcal vaccine.

Additionally, the panel suggested that individuals aged 65 and older consider receiving another COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what seniors need to be aware of regarding the updated CDC recommendations.

Pneumococcal vaccine for middle-aged adults

On Wednesday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to change the starting age for the pneumococcal vaccine from 65 to 50 and up.

Older adults need only a single dose of this vaccine, which protects against pneumococcus bacteria—the leading cause of pneumonia in older adults, as noted by Dr. Jiansheng Zhao, an internal medicine specialist in the SOMOS Community Care network.

According to the CDC, about 1 in 20 older adults infected with pneumococcus will die from pneumococcal pneumonia.

There are around 100 known pneumococcus strains that can lead to ear infections, meningitis, and other illnesses. The latest vaccine protects against 20 of the most dangerous strains.

Lowering the age threshold for the vaccine will allow individuals under 65 who have health issues that heighten their risk of severe illness from the bacteria to be included. Data from the meeting illustrated that approximately 90% of those aged 50 to 64 possess at least one health condition that places them at risk.

The American Lung Association indicates that adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes, or chronic heart disease are at a higher risk for developing pneumococcal pneumonia.

Widening access will also help reduce health disparities, as racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by these chronic conditions, according to Jones, who went through hospitalization due to the disease in 2018 and serves as the president and CEO of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging.

Access to the vaccine is “extremely vital, especially given the risk factors present in our community,” she noted.

Get a second COVID-19 vaccine if you received one this fall

ACIP also recommended that adults 65 years and older receive a second dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall. Eligible individuals should consult their healthcare providers about the optimal timing for this additional dose.

Older adults are more susceptible to severe outcomes from COVID-19: they often face more severe cases, higher hospitalization rates, and greater risks of death.

According to data shared during Wednesday’s meeting, two-thirds of adult COVID-19 hospitalizations were among people aged 65 and older. Experts believe that an additional vaccine dose could help mitigate these serious outcomes.

Since August, there has been a steady decline in emergency room visits, deaths, and COVID-19 cases, as per CDC data. However, experts predict this trend may reverse as the holiday season approaches and colder weather forces more indoor gatherings, which increases virus spread.

The CDC indicated that the KP.3.1.1 variant is currently the most frequent COVID-19 variant in the U.S., making up over 57% of cases. The second-most common variant, XEC, constitutes nearly 11% of cases.

No changes to RSV vaccine recommendations

While ACIP did not reassess the RSV vaccine, experts stress that older Americans should receive it if they haven’t done so already.

This marks the second consecutive year that healthcare providers are offering vaccines to safeguard adults against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and only 29% of eligible adults have received the vaccine, according to CDC data.

Some experts believe vaccine fatigue—people’s reluctance to keep getting multiple vaccines each year—might contribute to this low vaccination rate. Jones added that awareness of the RSV vaccine is still growing and many older adults may not realize they can get it.

“Just two years ago, RSV wasn’t even on the radar, and now it’s a topic of discussion,” she mentioned.

A recent study found that the RSV vaccine is effective in preventing severe illness in older adults, showing an 80% effectiveness against hospitalizations among individuals aged 60 and above as noted in a report published in The Lancet last week.

The RSV vaccine is recommended for all adults 75 years and older, as well as those aged 60 to 74 with a heightened risk for severe disease.

Individuals do not need to get the RSV vaccine every year. Health officials recommend just one dose, so if you were vaccinated last year, you don’t need another dose this year. They have indicated they will review the necessity of additional doses in the future.

RSV is a significant cause of hospitalizations for infants and young children, but it can also affect older adults, resulting in over 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths among that demographic.

According to Jones, groups like the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging are making significant efforts to disseminate accurate information regarding available resources and enhance access within the community.

“Our aim is to encourage individuals to take a proactive approach to their health care rather than waiting for issues to arise,” she stated. “Vaccinations play a crucial role in this.”