Never too old
One of the things that we fail to take into consideration as adults is the completeness of our vaccination. While I have received the hepatitis A and B, MMR, tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, and have been religious about having an annual flu vaccination, I have been delaying getting the herpes zoster vaccine, even when a colleague had hearing loss due to zoster. Finally, I got one, and remembering how a sibling was temporarily debilitated for close to a month by extreme pain, I should never have put it off.
As doctors, we should practice what we preach. In a recent meeting with a known adult infectious disease colleague, he shared that two of his patients succumbed to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and asked if I knew that the European Society of Cardiology issued a consensus statement that immunization should be regarded as one of the foundational pillars of cardiovascular prevention, alongside established measures, such as the use of antihypertensive, diabetes, and lipid-lowering medications. As a pediatrician, while I am well-versed with recommended vaccines for children, I have to review adult recommendations periodically. We should keep in mind that we are vulnerable individuals as well and should be up-to-date.
Available data show an increased risk for cardiovascular complications following an infection with RSV, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, streptococcal pneumoniae, and varicella-zoster (herpes-zoster). Other pathogens, which have been implicated, include adenovirus and parainfluenza. As to the mechanism involved, the resulting systemic inflammation together with the release of proinflammatory mediators not only increases the risk for atherogenesis but also affects the heart’s contractility, and in the long run may cause nonreversible structural changes that can lead to heart failure.
In the Philippines, we have the aforementioned vaccines, save for SARS-CoV-2. There are two RSV vaccines for adults and for pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy.
Below is a review of recommended vaccines for you to consider and ask your health-care provider about.
RSV vaccine. While we may not have exact ongoing data on its incidence, we have seen cases documented in institutions with respiratory panels (PCR assays) and that have had complicated hospital stays. There is no known antiviral treatment, and management remains supportive. Prevention, aside from giving a monoclonal antibody to infants, is the administration of the RSV vaccine for individuals beginning from the 32nd to the 36th week of pregnancy. Vaccination is also recommended for individuals aged 75 and older, and for adults 50 to 74 years at increased risk for severe disease. These include individuals who have chronic disease involving the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, or blood (hematologic); those with neurologic or neuromuscular conditions that would impair respiratory function; are severely obese; moderately or severely immunocompromised; diabetic; or residents in a nursing home. This involves a single, onetime vaccination.
Influenza vaccine. Immunization remains an important preventive tool along with observance of standard hygiene precautions. Annual vaccination should remain a top priority, especially for those at high risk of suffering complications, which include young infants, pregnant women, and individuals who are immunocompromised. According to World Health Organization report as of Dec. 10, 2025, globally, the incidence of influenza remains within the expected range, and despite the detection of subclade K viruses (a newly emerged variant of the H3N2 subtype of influenza A, better known as the super flu), available epidemiological data show no indication of increased disease severity. Despite a mismatch between circulating strains and those contained in the vaccine, there is still considerable protection from the other strains that are included in the vaccine. In the Philippines, the flu season coincides with the rainy season, beginning in June and running through December. It is best to have yourself immunized before then.
Pneumococcal vaccine. Both polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines are available. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for adults 50 years of age and older, and for those 18 to 49 years, with high-risk conditions. Seek the advice of a health-care professional on which vaccine is best suited for your situation.
Zoster vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine for the prevention of shingles and its complications for those 50 years of age and older, and for individuals greater than 19 years old who are or will be immunocompromised.
Given that cardiovascular disease is a top cause of mortality in our country, and with the rising cost of living and health care, prevention remains the best option. Hopefully, we will live to see a time when all recommended vaccines are not an out-of-pocket expense, and there will be enough to supply the needs of the community.
Be protected and prevent others from getting infected as well. Make it a personal advocacy.
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timgim_67@yahoo.com
