Educational Series: Burden of Influenza in Older Adults and Importance of Immunisation

Disease burden attributable to influenza is substantial in older adults, characterised by high rates of hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and death in adults aged ≥65 years and with these outcomes worsening with increasing age. Older adults are at higher risk of severe influenza illness and serious complications due to the presence of comorbidities, which exacerbate the course of illness, and an age-associated decline in immunocompetence, which reduces immunity to influenza virus infection. In addition, increasing evidence indicates a non-respiratory disease burden of influenza. This ‘hidden’ burden includes exacerbation of underlying conditions, secondary

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