Prevention of infectious diseases in older adults through immunization: the challenge of the senescent immune response

Abstract

A decline in immune function with aging increases the risk of different infectious diseases, many of which of can be prevented by vaccination. Influenza is foremost among these illnesses and remains a significant problem in older adults despite widespread influenza vaccination programs. There are major challenges to developing new or more effective vaccines against influenza and the many other virus and bacterial illnesses that commonly affect the population aged over 65 years. This article will provide a summary of the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, pneumococcal disease and herpes zoster, strategies that are being used to develop or improve vaccines against these diseases and how this might alter the immune response to improve protection.

Keywords::

• antibodies
• correlates of protection
• cytokines
• cytotoxic T lymphocytes
• granzyme B
• helper T cells
• herpes zoster
• influenza
• pneumococcus
• respiratory syncytial virus
• tetanus
• vaccination

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Janet E McElhaney has received the following in the past 5 years: CSL (honoraria), Dynavax (honoraria), GSK (research funding, consultancy, honaria and Site PI for clinical trial), Merck (consultancy, honoraria, Site PI for a clinical research study and a clinical trial), Novartis (honoraria), Novavax (consultancy), Sanofi Pasteur (consultancy, honoraria, site PI for clinical trial) and Solvay (consultancy and honoraria). The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.