Last year over 36,000 Americans died from exposure to the flu, and of those, more than 32,000 were 65 years of age or older. Another 200,000 people were hospitalized with symptoms of the illness. The flu and pneumonia (the most common complication of the flu) combined are the fifth leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older.
"With those grim numbers behind us, it’s important that we look ahead of us and make sure that this nation is better prepared than we were last year. And I’m pleased to report that we are ready, that the nation should have plenty of flu vaccine to meet the virus’s that are now circulating," said Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho). "Now it’s up to senior citizens, and those who provide care, to get vaccinated."
The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging noted that Medicare pays 100 percent of the cost for both the flu and pneumonia vaccinations. The pneumonia vaccine needs only to be given once to those 65 and older, while the flu vaccine must be given each year to meet changes in that virus.
"Last year's flu vaccine shortages combined with an unusually early flu season resulted in heightened awareness to the importance of immunization," Chairman Craig said. "In my own state of Idaho, with the exception of one young victim, all of those who died from the flu were over the age of 50. We cannot underestimate the danger it poses to the seniors of today and boomers of tomorrow."
Craig’s comment’s came at a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing held as part of the National Adult Immunization Awareness Week, which runs September 26 through October 2.
Witnesses at the hearing said that despite the fact that 83 million Americans were immunized last year – the highest immunization rate ever for influenza – only 6 out of every 10 senior citizens were immunized.
"Although this is a higher percentage of influenza vaccination than for other targeted groups, it is still insufficient," said Dr. Stephen Ostroff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).