Pharm Report Issue No. 18

A newsletter to update clinic staff on current issues in healthcare

Issue XVIII (May 2025)

Vaccines for Older Adults

Staying up to date on vaccines is one of the most important things older patients can do to stay healthy.

• All adults 50 years of age and older should receive a pneumococcal vaccine. Please note that this recommended age was recently lowered from 65. Adults under the age of 50 should get a pneumococcal vaccine if they are immunocompromised or have chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart, liver, or lung disease. Click here for a handy chart for your clinic!
• All adults 50 years of age and older should also receive a two-dose series of the herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine.
• All adults 65 years of age and older should receive two doses of COVID vaccines, separated by at least six months. If your patients got their COVID shots with their flu shots back in the fall, they may be due for their second COVID shot!
• All adults 75 years of age and older should get a dose of the RSV vaccine. Adults 60 through 74 years of age should get an RSV vaccine if they are immunocompromised or have chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart, liver, or lung disease. Click here for another handy chart!
• Vaccines are covered by commercial insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare. Remember that Medicare Part B covers flu and pneumococcal vaccines at clinics and pharmacies, while Medicare Part D covers shingles and RSV vaccines at pharmacies only.

Prescription Tips

Please take dexterity issues into consideration for anyone over 60 years old and avoid asking patients to split tablets, especially if a whole tablet is available in that medication. Older adults have a hard time with pill splitters.

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