After only three years of population distribution in Korea, the number of people aged 65 or older in Korea will exceed 10 million in 2025, and after entering a ‘super-aged society’, the rate of aging will accelerate and the proportion of the elderly population will exceed 30% in 13 years. is a prospect.
According to the “population forecast for 2020-2040” recently released by the National Statistical Office, the number of people aged 65 and over in Korea is expected to exceed 8.15 million in 2020, 10 million in 2025, and 15 million in 2035, respectively. In addition, the last week of April every year is World Immunization Week designated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The elderly, like children, are considered a group with a weak immune system. There is nothing more important than vaccination in health care. With the help of Professor Kim Yun-jung, Department of Infectious Diseases, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, we will learn about vaccinations necessary for the elderly.
◆Pneumococcal pneumonia, 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, and 13-valent protein conjugate vaccine are recommended to be vaccinated
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the main causes of invasive infections such as pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis media, and meningitis. Although most people do not cause symptoms in healthy adults, it can cause invasive infections in the elderly and young children with weakened immune systems and can be fatal. It is spread through the saliva or droplets of an infected person.
The pneumococcal vaccination is divided into the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, which is provided free of charge at public health centers or designated medical institutions, and the 13-valent protein conjugate vaccine, which is inoculated at general hospitals. The 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine can be expected to prevent infection of various serotypes, but antibody titers begin to decrease after one year after vaccination, and revaccination is necessary after five years. The 13-valent protein conjugate vaccine is a vaccine that complements the limitations of the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, and effective prevention of pneumococcal infection can be expected with just one inoculation. Professor Kim Yun-jeong of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital said, “It is difficult to say which one is superior, and since they are complementary according to their characteristics, it is recommended that patients with chronic diseases or immunocompromised be inoculated with both types of vaccines in turn.”
◆ Herpes zoster is the most common among people in their 70s… You should get vaccinated regardless of your history of shingles.
Herpes zoster is a disease that causes various skin lesions and neuralgia such as red spots, blisters, and pustules along the nerves distributed when immunity is weakened after the chickenpox virus that causes chickenpox hides in the ganglion next to the spinal cord. It is known that there is a 10-30% chance of getting shingles at least once in a lifetime. It usually increases rapidly after the age of 45 and is most common in people in their 70s. The incidence rate is about 141 per 100,000 people.
The shingles vaccine is given once in a lifetime for people 50 years of age or older. As a result of a 3.1-year follow-up of 38,000 elderly people over the age of 65 who had never had shingles, the incidence of shingles decreased by 51%. 50-59 years old 69.8%, 60-69 years old 64%, 70-79 years old 42%, 80 years and older 18% reduction effect was shown. In addition, when vaccinated, symptoms were mild even if the person had shingles, and the incidence of sequelae such as neuralgia after shingles was reduced by up to 74%.
Even in people who have had herpes zoster, 6.2% can recur, and it is good to get vaccinated regardless of whether or not you have had herpes zoster.
◆ Tetanus, poor prognosis for the elderly… Vaccination required every 10 years to maintain immunity
Tetanus is an infectious disease that causes muscle spasms and respiratory paralysis when toxins produced by bacteria invading wounds cause abnormalities in human nerves. Tetanus bacteria in the soil or feces enters the skin or mucous membrane wounds. You can also become infected when you fall and get hurt, when you have a piercing or tattoo, or when you are stung by an insect. Improvements in living conditions have significantly lowered the incidence rate. About 10 to 20 cases are reported annually. However, in the case of the elderly and infants, prevention is important as the prognosis is poor once infected.
Professor Kim Yoon-jeong said, “If you check your past tetanus vaccination records and determine that you do not have sufficient immunity to tetanus toxin, it is recommended that you receive a vaccination against tetanus toxoid, a preventive vaccine. said
◆ Japanese encephalitis, 3 doses of inactivated vaccine – 1 dose of live vaccine to form immunity
Japanese encephalitis is an acute viral infectious disease caused by a small red mosquito (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus, which infects the human body during the biting process. The incubation period is 7 to 14 days, and most are asymptomatic, but 1 in 250 infected people develop acute encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, and nonspecific febrile disease. There is no known human-to-human transmission.
Adults who have never been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, who plan to live or work near rice paddies or pig farms, or foreigners who will reside in Korea for a long time from a non-endemic area other than a country where Japanese encephalitis is endemic, and travelers from countries with Japanese encephalitis are eligible for vaccination. The inactivated vaccine is administered 2 times at 7-30 day intervals, followed by the 3rd dose 12 months later, for a total of 3 doses. The live vaccine forms sufficient protective immunity within 2 weeks with just one inoculation. However, do not vaccinate patients with solid cancer undergoing chemotherapy, immunosuppressant users, or after organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
◆Influenza, epidemic starting in December… Must be vaccinated in October-November
Influenza is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets secreted when an acute influenza patient coughs or sneezes. Therefore, there is a high probability of infection when in close contact with an influenza patient. Common symptoms include sudden fever (above 38℃), headache, general weakness, dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, and muscle pain.
Influenza vaccination can be easily done at designated medical institutions or public health centers. Influenza vaccination is free for the elderly 65 years of age or older, children 6 months to 12 years old, and pregnant women. Considering that the influenza epidemic mainly starts in December and the preventive effect appears 2 weeks after vaccination and lasts for about 3 to 12 months (average 6 months), it is recommended to complete the vaccination at a nearby medical institution by November at the latest. . Professor Kim Yun-jeong said, “The most effective way to prevent influenza, which is mainly prevalent in winter, is to receive an influenza vaccine. good,” he begged.