COVID-19 continues to pose a serious health threat, especially for older adults who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 and be hospitalized. The good news is adults 65 years of age and older can reduce their risk of severe illness by receiving recommended vaccinations, including another dose of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months after their first dose.
The best protection against many infectious respiratory illnesses is immunization. Immunizations can help provide protection, build our immune response, and can limit the severity, spread, and widespread threat of disease.
The Benefits of Immunization for High-Risk Populations
Older adults, young children and people with certain health conditions are at greater risk for severe respiratory disease. Vaccines provide important protection.
Last Updated03/12/2025
The Benefits of Immunization for High-Risk Populations
RSV Vaccines: Insights for At-Risk and Older Adults
Last Updated12/10/2024
Last year’s availability of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines marked a critical step in science and public health. Previously, no widespread prevention option existed to protect those at increased risk for RSV, including older adults, from this serious infectious respiratory disease. In the year since RSV vaccines were first introduced, real world evidence has shown that they are effective in preventing serious illness for individuals 60 years and older. However, despite the progress made towards RSV prevention, RSV vaccine uptake continues to remain low in older adults.
As we continue into peak respiratory season and beyond, CVEEP hosted an expert-led conversation on updated risk-based RSV vaccine guidance for older adults, the value of vaccination for adults at highest risk for severe RSV disease, and other important considerations to help promote vaccine uptake across communities.
Speakers included:
Amadea Britton, MD, Medical Officer, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Co-Lead of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Adult RSV Vaccine Work Group, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Lynn Albizo, JD, Chief Public Policy Officer at the Immune Deficiency Foundation
Sara Maloney, MPA, Program Director of the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative and the Center for Dementia Respite Innovation, USAging
The discussion was moderated by Karyne Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, a convener of CVEEP.
Preparing for Respiratory Illness Season: A Guide for Long-term Care
Ahead of respiratory disease season this fall and winter, developing a care plan for vaccination, testing, and treatment can help protect loved ones in long-term care facilities from serious illness and make a potentially stressful time more manageable.
Last Updated12/10/2024
Preparing for Respiratory Illness Season: A Guide for Long-term Care
What to Know About Recommendations and Coverage for Updated COVID-19 Vaccines: Older Adults (Ages 65+)
Age is the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19. Individuals ages 65 years and older are highly recommended to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.
Last Updated11/25/2024
What to Know About Recommendations and Coverage for Updated COVID-19 Vaccines: Older Adults (Ages 65+)
For older adults, RSV can be very serious and causes hospitalizations and death each year. Vaccines are available to help protect against RSV and the CDC recommends vaccination for people who are at increased risk for severe RSV.
Supporting Equitable Access to Respiratory Vaccines: Best Practices and Implementation of Risk-Based Recommendations
Last Updated10/15/2024
Risk-based vaccine recommendations are an important mechanism by which public health authorities provide guidance, encourage vaccination, and reach vulnerable populations. That said, implementation of risk-based recommendations can prove challenging.
As we navigate this year’s respiratory illness season, Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity and Progress (CVEEP) held a discussion focused on best practices to support equitable access to respiratory vaccines, which will include an overview of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for respiratory vaccines, and considerations specific to risk-based recommendations. Featuring insights from leading public health experts, clinicians, and government officials, the event explored what is working, where there might be barriers to implementation and gaps in communication and, how the public health community can work together to ensure all individuals are able to receive the vaccines they need.
Panelists included:
Karyne Jones, President and CEO of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging and convening member of CVEEP
Dr. Reed Tuckson, Co-Founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID and Co-Founder of the Coalition For Trust in Health & Science
Dr. Evelyn Twentyman, Senior Advisor for Vaccine Strategy, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC
The discussion was moderated by Amy Pisani, CEO of Vaccinate Your Family.
