Do elderly people (over 65 years) who have no chronic illnesses need the influenza vaccine?
Yes. Age is an independent risk factor for influenza. Vaccination of those aged over 65 years, regardless of the presence or absence of chronic illness, reduces all-cause mortality by up to 50% in the winter period in this age group (see Part 3.11, ‘Influenza’). 1,2 The healthy elderly should also receive the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (see Part 3.18, ‘Pneumococcal infections’).
