For many older adults across Canada, a key component to meeting healthy aging goals is preventing disease before it begins. Vaccination remains a cornerstone of public health, and at this time of year when our focus is on combating respiratory viruses, other vaccine-preventable diseases may be forgotten.
Shingles, a painful and potentially serious condition, can happen any time of year and disproportionately affects those aged 50 and above. While the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends shingles vaccination for all adults over 50, as well as for adults who are or will be immunocompromised, out-of-pocket cost continues to be a barrier for many older Canadians.
A recent national survey conducted by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) offers new insights. More than 7,000 older Canadians participated, and the results are telling: 82% consider vaccines “very important” for personal and community health, yet 78% admit they have not been vaccinated against shingles, even though 70% know of the condition.
Many respondents described a fragmented health system, where access to recommended vaccines like shingles depends largely on where you live and your ability to afford them. For example, shingles vaccination is funded by the government for PEI residents aged 50 and older, but in Ontario only those aged 65-70 are eligible and for British Columbians it’s not covered at all. Further, if you don’t qualify for public funding and live in Ontario you’ll need a prescription from your doctor, yet in Quebec, vaccination can be prescribed and administered by a pharmacist.
With older adults among those most at risk for severe outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases, closing these gaps is a matter of health equity. Expanding public funding for all recommended adult vaccines, simplifying pathways to vaccination, and empowering pharmacists are critical steps that can help toward safeguarding healthy aging for every Canadian.
Nearly 96% of survey respondents believe the federal government should ensure provinces and territories provide access to all NACI-recommended vaccines for seniors. The feedback is clear: it’s time to ensure that no senior is left behind, regardless of the province they live in or the size of their pocketbook.
This content has been supplied by GSK.
