Vaccinations are important at any age. Some vaccinations of pregnant women already protect the newborn. In old age, an increasing weakening of the immune system makes these precautions even more important.
The EU is in a very good position when it comes to vaccine research and production, the Austrian Association of Vaccine Manufacturers said at a press conference on Monday.
The European Vaccination Week is currently underway. This brings the importance of vaccinations to the attention of the general public. This applies to all age groups. “The newborn’s immune system is not fully developed at birth,” stressed Birgit Weinberger of the Institute for Biomedical Age Research at the University of Innsbruck, stressing that vaccinations can protect mothers, unborn children and newborns even in the first trimester of pregnancy. can protect. .
At the other end of the scale is the situation of the elderly. The expert: “This is where immune senescence takes place, where the immune system weakens in many areas.” Together with chronic underlying diseases that are more common in old age and/or necessary therapies that weaken the body’s defenses against diseases (e.g. rheumatism, cancer, etc.), there is also a great danger here due to diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.
Influenza often exacerbates chronic illnesses
Birgit Weinberger cited American studies on this. For example, elderly people who already have seven to nine underlying illnesses and who go to the doctor with the flu have an almost 100 percent chance of ending up in hospital. Conversely, the flu itself often leads to an aggravation of the chronic underlying disease or to an ever-deteriorating general condition of those affected.
According to the expert, a study group of 346 people at risk in the United States showed that twelve percent did not survive the flu. Another 20 percent had a deterioration in their functional status, and 11 percent eventually emerged from the infection with catastrophic debilitation. Vaccination protection, partly also shorter immunization intervals due to the lower response of the body to the vaccine and due to a faster loss of the protective effect, is therefore particularly important in old age.
Many new vaccines in development
There are likely to be many new vaccines in the coming years. “Research is being conducted into a large number of new vaccines. Hundreds of candidate vaccines are currently in development. 92 are planned as prophylactic vaccines, eight as therapeutic vaccines. Eleven of the vaccines under development are intended to be used against pathogens that are already resistant to antibiotics. 81 percent are intended for adults, 32 percent for children,” says Renee Gallo-Daniel, president of the Association of Vaccine Manufacturers (ÖVIH). 52 percent of candidate vaccines are intended to protect against infections transmitted through the respiratory tract, 45 percent contain new indications (diseases that cannot yet be prevented or treated by vaccination).
Austria still has some catching up to do
However, any vaccine can only work if – as it was said at the press conference – it ends up “in the arm” of the person being protected by injection. Despite the free vaccination program for children and some other campaigns, Austria still has some catching up to do. “More than 80 percent of Austrians are vaccinated against TBE and only 16 percent against flu, with numbers dropping recently,” said Renee Gallo-Daniel. According to current views, however, the public sector should also bear the costs for the adults in the coming season.
The demands of the Vaccine Manufacturers Association: creation of an adult vaccination concept, nationwide vaccination programs for all people with broader funding and education campaigns. Vaccination should be as readily available as possible. Every visit to the doctor should also lead to a check on vaccination status.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
