Immunisation is vital for seniors as immunity naturally declines with age, increasing vulnerability to severe infections.

In Singapore, vaccines recommended to protect older adults from serious disease and complications include:

• Influenza,
  
  
• Pneumococcal, and
  
  
• Shingles (herpes zoster) are recommended to protect older adults

Despite their importance, vaccination uptake among seniors remains low.

Influenza vaccination coverage among those aged 65–74 is about 32.4%, while pneumococcal vaccination coverage has improved to 35% in 2023, up from 11.9% in 2017.

To strengthen protection, Singapore recently added the Shingrix shingles vaccine and the PCV20 pneumococcal vaccine to the National Adult Immunisation Schedule, making them eligible for subsidies.

Ultimately, improving vaccination rates empowers seniors to stay protected, independent, and better prepared for future health challenges.

If you have any questions about immunisation for seniors, don’t miss this valuable opportunity to speak with our Family Physician Dr Aloysius Lam from SingHealth Polyclinics, and gain expert insights on protecting the health of our ageing population.

Dr Aloysius Lam is a Family Physician at SingHealth Polyclinics. He graduated from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in 2018 and obtained his Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) in 2023. 

He is currently an active member of SingHealth Polyclinics’ Infection Prevention and Infectious Disease (IPID) Committee Workgroup.

Ref: G25