Vaccinations in older adults with gastrointestinal diseases.

Vaccines play a key role in the prevention of illness in the elderly, are cost effective, and generally safe. Hepatitis C, cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease are more prevalent than ever among older adults. Along with an age-related decline in immune system function (immunosenescence), these diseases make elderly individuals more susceptible to infections and more likely to experience a poor outcome relative to their younger counterparts. Vaccinations also appear to be less effective in the elderly, warranting research into different vaccination strategies such as booster vaccines, higher doses of vaccine, and measurement of antibody titers to guide vaccination.