Influenza Immunization in Older Adults: Enhanced Vaccines and Best Practices for Long-Term Care Pharmacists

Program Description

Influenza places a significant burden on the United States, leading to high rates of illness, mortality, and health care spending. Older adults, especially those with multiple comorbidities, face an elevated risk of infection and serious complications. This risk is even more pronounced in long-term care facilities and geriatric care settings, where outbreaks can spread and escalate quickly. The resulting direct and indirect costs place a substantial demand on both patients and the broader health care system. To help protect these vulnerable populations, vaccine technologies continue to evolve, aiming to elicit stronger immune responses. Each year, manufacturers develop targeted vaccines based on predictions of circulating seasonal virus variants to effectively prevent infection. Despite these efforts, many older adults either do not plan to receive the influenza vaccine or report low confidence in the education provided. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address these challenges by raising awareness and educating patients on the value of influenza vaccination. This activity will review current influenza vaccine recommendations for older adults, explore advances in vaccine technology, and examine strategies to improve immunization rates and support healthier outcomes across the aging population.

Target audience: Consultant Pharmacist

Type of activity: Application
Release date: October 31, 2025
Expiration date: November 2, 2026

Time to complete activity: 1.0 hours

Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate,

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Employ preferential use of enhanced influenza vaccines for adults aged 65 years and older as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines
• Discover the technology behind available influenza vaccines, including enhanced vaccines and how their mechanisms contribute to increased immune response
• Exercise practical guidance on implementing effective vaccination strategies within long-term care facilities and geriatric care settings to optimize immunization rates and improve health outcomes