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Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.

3 min

Do older adults need varicella vaccine? Understanding chickenpox vs. shingles protection

While most adults over 50 years old are presumed to be immune to chickenpox due to childhood infection, this is not a universal rule. So, **do older adults need varicella vaccine**? The answer depends entirely on your immune history and is often confused with the need for a separate shingles vaccine. This article clarifies the recommendations for older adults and the important difference between these two vaccines.

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4 min

How do you treat chickenpox in the elderly?

Did you know that chickenpox in adults can lead to a 25-fold higher risk of mortality compared to children, with older adults being especially vulnerable? As the immune system naturally declines with age, knowing **how do you treat chickenpox in the elderly** becomes critical for preventing severe illness and protecting the health of your loved ones.

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3 min

Why do older people get shingles? The connection to weakened immunity

Over 99% of Americans born before 1980 have had chickenpox, and they carry the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that can reactivate years later as shingles. This occurs most frequently in older adults due to a natural decline in the immune system's ability to keep the virus suppressed.

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4 min

Are old people vulnerable to chicken pox? Why Adults Are at Greater Risk

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, before the chickenpox vaccine was available, adults were at a much greater risk for severe complications from the illness than children. While chickenpox is often a mild childhood illness, the question 'Are old people vulnerable to chicken pox?' has a clear answer: yes, and the disease is often more serious and potentially life-threatening in this demographic. A weakened immune system due to age can make older adults more susceptible to severe infection and serious complications.

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4 min

Can I get chickenpox at 70? Understanding Your Risk

While more than 99% of Americans born before 1980 were infected with the varicella-zoster virus as children, immunity can wane over time. This raises a critical question for older adults: can I get chickenpox at 70? The reality is that the greater risk is not reinfection, but rather the reactivation of the dormant virus in the form of shingles.

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