Immunization: protecting older patients from infectious disease.

Prevention of infectious disease is an important component of primary care medicine. One goal of Healthy People 2000 is to reduce the rate of complications and death from infectious diseases by increasing the rates of immunization. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are indicated for high-risk groups, including all persons age 65 or older. Influenza immunization should be offered during routine office visits from September through November. Pneumococcal vaccine may be repeated after 6 years and may be given concurrently with the influenza vaccine. Other vaccines to consider--depending on the patient's perceived level of risk--include hepatitis B, tetanus toxoid, measles-mumps-rubella, hepatitis A, and varicella.