You\u2019ve heeded the advice of your medical professional to protect yourself from the flu by getting vaccinated \u2013 but somehow you still get it. What\u2019s up with that? Well, if you\u2019re one of the millions of Americans with high cholesterol who is taking meds, known as statins, to lower it \u2013 you could be messing with your flu shot\u2019s effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Now what?<\/strong><\/p>\n Okay, so now you\u2019re probably thinking \u2013 what are you supposed to do? Should you go without one so as to not interfere with the other? Actually, that may not be the best route to take.<\/p>\n It\u2019s particularly problematic among adults over 65. In fact, a new report showed that many of those senior statin users tested had a significantly reduced immune response to the flu vaccine. Furthermore, in a second study, those not taking statins had a higher effectiveness of preventing serious respiratory illness related to the flu than patients who took them regularly.<\/p>\n Published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases<\/a>, the research findings proved two things \u2013 the elderly are more likely to die or face serious complications from the flu and, they\u2019re equally as likely to be taking statins to control their cholesterol as a means to control the risk of a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t stop taking your statins<\/strong><\/p>\n Because more in depth research is needed to determine exactly how statins interfere with common vaccines and which is the best path to take, don\u2019t stop taking your meds. Dr. Robert Atmar, an infectious disease researcher at Baylor College of Medicine <\/a>\u2013 who authored an accompanying editorial to the findings \u2013 recommends that older patients \u201cshould stay the course with both their medications and vaccinations\u201d.<\/p>\n Though considered risky at this point with regards to heart disease and stroke, lead study author Steven Black of the Center for Global Health <\/a>at Cincinnati Children\u2019s Hospital in Ohio, believes it may be possible to pause the use of statins prior to immunization in an effort to prevent the diminished effectiveness of the flu vaccine. But, again \u2013 this could present dangerous consequences without further testing and should not be attempted.<\/p>\n Another option, according to Black, could be to give multiple or more potent doses of the flu shot to those individuals who use statins. In conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n Caught between the proverbial \u201crock and a hard place,\u201d seniors need to follow the current recommendations. Get your flu shot and keep taking those statins\u2026until research comes up with a better solution.<\/p>\n You also want to make sure you\u2019ve got the most affordable health insurance coverage available through Covered California<\/a>. And, if you\u2019re turning 65 and it\u2019s a Medicare plan you need, now is the perfect time to get covered.<\/p>\n
\nWhile the flu can severely affect all age groups, seniors are not just at risk for serious illness and complications \u2013 including death as a result of the influenza bug \u2013 but they also face the risk of heart disease and stroke from high cholesterol without taking their statins.<\/p>\n