Role of Vaccinations in Healthy Aging Focus of New National Campaign

For Immediate Release
November 15, 2023
Contact: Virginia Biggar, vbiggar@usaging.org and 202.872.0888

WASHINGTON—A new national consumer education campaign aims to empower older adults to take charge of their health and well-being during this winter season by getting needed vaccinations.

Each fall, the Eldercare Locator’s Home for the Holidays campaign shines a light on an important topic affecting the health and wellness of older adults. This year, the focus is on encouraging older adults to protect themselves and their families by getting vaccinated before gathering with loved ones for the holidays. The Eldercare Locator, a national resource and call center on aging issues, can also connect people to local organizations that can help with accessing vaccinations, even if consumers face barriers such as lack of transportation or inability to leave their homes.

Older adults, and people with disabilities or with compromised immune systems are most at risk for getting very sick from the flu and COVID-19. After hitting a new low in June 2023, COVID-19 hospitalizations are climbing again. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that COVID-19 vaccination rates, particularly among older Americans, are on the decline—with only 43 percent of adults over age 65 having received an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

“This is a time of year when many people gather with family or friends. Through the Home for the Holidays campaign, we are providing older adults with the information and resources they need to find vaccines at the local level that can keep them safe and healthy this winter,” said Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, which administers the Eldercare Locator. “The Eldercare Locator can help older adults find local resources that can help make getting vaccinated easy, such as vaccine clinics, in-home vaccinations, transportation to vaccine sites and more.”

“Staying up to date with vaccines is the most important thing we all can do to protect ourselves for the fall and winter virus season. It’s especially critical for older adults and people with disabilities, who are more likely to get very sick from the flu and other viruses,” said Alison Barkoff, who leads the U.S. Administration for Community Living. “Getting the annual flu shot, the updated COVID-19 vaccine, and the new RSV vaccine can help older adults stay healthy and active so they can be there for the important things in their lives.”

The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration for Community Living and connects older adults and families to local services and resources in their communities. For more information about the Home for the Holidays campaign visit http://www.usaging.org/h4h2023.

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About the Eldercare Locator
Launched in 1992, the Eldercare Locator is the only national information and referral resource to provide support to consumers across the spectrum of issues affecting older Americans. The Eldercare Locator, established and funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and administered by USAging, is easily accessed at eldercare.acl.gov.

About the Home for the Holidays Campaign
Home for the Holidays is an annual public education campaign that encourages discussion of important issues affecting older Americans at a time of the year when family and friends often gather. Past campaigns have focused on the decision to give up driving, updates that can be made to homes to accommodate the changes that come along with aging, the importance of maintaining brain health and more.

About USAging
USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.