The Mindful Path – Important Immunizations | Aug. 3, 2026

Prevention is powerful. Each August, National Immunization Awareness Month reminds us of the vital role vaccinations play in keeping people of all ages safe, especially older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those living in congregate settings. 

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases provides the following information to educate and protect older adults. Older folks need to prioritize vaccinations for many important reasons. As we age, our immune systems don’t respond as well, so we must stay up to date with recommended vaccines, including boosters for enhanced protection. Some vaccine-preventable diseases are particularly prevalent and serious in older adults, such as shingles, pneumonia, and influenza (flu). Additionally, older adults socialize with many people— colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors—and can play an important role as trusted messengers about the importance of staying up to date on recommended vaccines.

A major challenge for immunizing older adults is that people often mistakenly think that vaccines are only for children. However, older adults face a higher risk of complications from many vaccine-preventable diseases, and there are now 15 diseases that adults age 65 and older should get vaccinated against. While infants and children have vaccine requirements for school or other activities, we don’t typically see the same requirements for older adults, so there is less incentive for them to get vaccinated. Finally, some older adults face mobility issues that may prevent them from leaving their homes, requiring extra effort to schedule in-home vaccinations or arrange special transportation.

The Alliance’s Truth About Vaccines for You and Your Loved Ones (https://tinyurl.com/3hxhmjmw) fact sheet provides an overview of how vaccines work, explains the benefits of vaccination, gives tips on spotting misinformation and disinformation, and debunks some of the most common myths regarding childhood and adult vaccination, including a section on COVID-19 vaccines.

Health in Aging (healthinaging.org) provides free information on the Vaccinations for Older Adults tab, including a Get the Basics document.

This National Immunization Awareness Month, take the time to review your vaccination status and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Together, we can protect ourselves and our community from preventable diseases.

Let’s work together to keep our community healthy and strong through the power of immunization!

Photo credit: Vitaly Gariev