Influenza in older patients: a call to action and recent updates for vaccinations.

Influenza affects millions of people in the United States each year. Older patients are particularly at risk for infection, hospitalization, and death due to influenza-related complications, such as pneumonia. One of the best ways to avoid becoming ill is to have the annual influenza vaccination. Unfortunately, immunization rates are poor in the older adult population, at about 65% each year. Vaccine effectiveness in this population is reduced because of lower seroconversion rates that arise from poorer immunologic response to vaccination. Several new influenza vaccines that have been introduced to the market in recent years attempt to boost immune response, including high-dose formulations and adjuvanted and recombinant vaccines. Managed care pharmacists need to understand the utility of these new agents in populations 65 years or older. This supplement highlights the impact of influenza on older patients, the features of new vaccine preparations, and the economic burden of influenza.