To Your Good Health
DEAR DR. ROACH: I'm a 76-year-old oncologist. I was scheduled to run a 10k race when I was 42 and got the flu the night before and was too ill to run. I've been getting flu shots yearly ever since. Knock on wood, I haven't contracted flu for 34 years.
I'm aware that flu shots can differ from one year to the next, but it seems to me that antibody levels should be high. Has anyone looked at antibody levels in patients like me who have had so many flu shots? — J.M.C.
ANSWER: The cumulative effect of many years of consecutive flu shots has been looked at, but the results are conflicting. On one side, studies have shown that at least in some particular years (2011-2012 and 2012-2013), those who had gotten a flu shot in both consecutive years had less protection in the second year than those who got only the flu shot the second year. However, other studies, looking at a longer timeline, have shown that people who get their vaccines every year have lower-than-expected risk of hospitalization or death due to flu.
The antibody levels themselves are not the best indicator of effectiveness of the flu vaccine, because antibody levels can drop to nondetectable and still provide a person protection. The protection can be very long-lasting. Memory B-cells can still be found in people who survived the 1918 flu pandemic (which was strain H1N1), and those have protected them from other H1N1 seasonal influenzas.
Health care workers — especially an oncologist like you, who is taking care of people with immune systems weakened by disease or chemotherapy — need to protect our patients by getting the flu vaccine every year. It protects us and our families as well, and the consensus is that yearly flu shots have a large overall benefit.
DEAR DR. ROACH: After reading several of your columns, where readers asked if they are too old for some activity, I wanted to make older adults aware of their untapped reservoir of energy and ability. I notice that most tend to be hesitant to try various activities thinking they are probably too old to attempt it.
I never participated in sports, and I was the “runt of the litter.” I started weight training when I turned 50 and have continued to experience the ability to lift even heavier loads for the past 20 years. It makes me believe that I still haven’t reached my potential. Also, since I retired, I find that although I do not have the stamina I used to have, I can continue to road bike similar distances as 20 years ago just adding a few minute breaks along the way. When I turned 55, I completed training in taekwondo and earned my black belt. I am convinced that preconceived notions get in the way of our challenging ourselves and realizing our abilities. — A.M.
ANSWER: I thank A.M. for writing. I often write about the importance of exercise, especially at older ages. I think this letter expresses how much good exercise can do, but I would just add that the sense of confidence and well-being that comes from being more physically fit is very powerful.