[The role of anti-influenza vaccination in elderly persons]

Aging is associated with an increased risk of viral infections such as influenza. Moreover, elderly individuals are susceptible to serious post-influenza complications: viral and bacterial pneumonia, myocarditis and myocardial injury, rhabdomyolysis as well as pulmonary thromboembolism. Mortality due to influenza is very high in the elderly and especially in those with chronic respiratory and circulatory diseases. The efficacy of influenza vaccination in the elderly is high in prevention of influenza and in reduction of hospitalizations for pneumonia, other respiratory conditions and in lowering death rates for all causes. Especially profitable are annually repeated vaccinations. Lack of an adequacy between titer of the protective anti-haemagglutinin antibodies and clinical protection may be due to the age-related changes in immune response. An assessment of cytolytic T cells activity together with cytokines, measured in tests in vitro, age good measures of vaccine effectiveness. Besides its specific protectory effect, influenza vaccination may also non-specifically stimulate NK cells and type I immune response. Thus, regular annually repeated influenza vaccinations are not only protective but also may modulate immune response.