THE VALUE OF INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES IN THE ELDERLY

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines have been available for decades an d have repeatedly been shown to be efficacious in healthy adults. Howe ver, for both vaccines, efficacy in high risk populations and older in dividuals does not seem to be as great, leading to reluctance to use t hem as recommended. Recent observational studies in older individuals have confirmed and quantified the effectiveness of the 2 vaccines in s ituations of actual use. Economic data indicate that under realistic s ituations they are likely to reduce costs for healthcare systems. Soci etal benefits are now also established. While it may be useful to conf irm the cost savings in additional systems of healthcare, the current emphasis should be to devise strategies to increase use of the vaccine s.