ACC Issues New Guidelines: Covid, Flu and Pneumonia Vaccines Essential for Heart Patients

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu)- Adults suffering from heart disease should get vaccinated against diseases like COVID-19, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumonia and herpes zoster (shingles). This recommendation has been given by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in its new guidelines.

This document includes scientific evidence for each vaccine and answers to frequently asked questions to make the conversation between patients and doctors easier. Paul Heidenreich, chairman of the ACC's writing committee, has also given his reaction to this. He says that getting vaccinated is very important for heart patients and to protect against other diseases. He said, "Vaccination is very important for heart patients to protect against infectious respiratory diseases and other serious diseases. But there is some difficulty in explaining to people which vaccine should be taken how many times and why it is necessary."

He further said, "The purpose of this guideline is to encourage doctors to openly discuss vaccination with patients and make it a part of routine treatment and prevention." Let us tell you, heart patients are at high risk of infection with respiratory viruses, which increases the risk of hospitalization and death. Many researches have shown that the vaccine reduces these risks to a great extent. However, a recent study has shown that only 30 percent of primary care physicians check the vaccination status of their patients. All adults have been advised to get a flu vaccine every year, which reduces deaths due to heart disease, heart-related deaths and other causes, but the nasal flu vaccine is not recommended for people over the age of 50.

Heart patients 19 years of age and older are required to get the pneumonia vaccine, which protects against pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. The ACC recommends the seasonal COVID vaccine and the RSV vaccine for people 75 years of age and older. Heart patients aged 50-74 should also get the RSV vaccine. This vaccine protects against severe respiratory diseases that can lead to hospitalization and death. Current guidelines recommend taking it once instead of annually. In addition, people over 50 are advised to get the shingles vaccine, which reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack. The guideline focuses primarily on respiratory vaccines, but also highlights the benefits of other vaccines, such as shingles.