EZIZ

Health Education – Long-Term Care (LTC) Talking Points

Respiratory infections like flu, COVID-19, and RSV are common during the fall and winter and can put long-term care residents at risk for serious illness.

  • Respiratory viruses can affect everyone, with older adults, people with certain risk conditions, and people living in long-term care facilities (LTCF) being at higher risk for severe illness and even death.
  • During the 2025-26 flu season, flu caused up to an estimated 81,000 deaths and 800,000 hospitalizations in the United States.
  • RSV causes an estimated 110,000-180,000 hospitalizations in adults 50 years and older each year.
  • More than 80% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65.

If you work in a health care setting, immunizing against common respiratory viruses is especially important.

  • Staying up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccines is essential for health care workers and others who take care of residents to prevent spreading flu and COVID-19 to them.
  • Caregivers in long-term care facilities are in daily close contact with residents who are more vulnerable to serious flu and COVID-19 illness due to weakened immune systems and higher rates of chronic illnesses.
  • Higher vaccine rates among LTCF health care workers have been associated with less patient influenza-like illness and lower all-cause mortality.

Staying up to date with immunizations is a simple action that long-term care staff, residents, and their families can take to protect each other from serious illness.

  • Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccines are designed to better match circulating strains and provider stronger protection against severe outcomes.
  • New seasons bring change – even to respiratory viruses! Keep your immune system ready for change with updated flu and COVID 19 immunizations.
  • For staff, staying up to date with immunizations, including flu and COVID-19, means fewer sick visits to the doctor, less work absences, and staying healthy to care for your residents.
  • If you are unable to get vaccinated at your facility, call your doctor or pharmacy, or schedule your flu, COVID-19, and/or other vaccines today at myturn.cdph.ca.gov.
  • Need proof of having received your vaccines? Request a copy of your vaccine record from the California Digital Vaccine Record portal.

Flu: Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine.

  • Getting the flu vaccine every year is a safe and effective way to keep immunity current and prevent serious illness and death.
  • High dose, recombinant, adjuvanted, or mRNA flu vaccines are preferentially recommended over standard flu vaccines for adults 65 years and older.
  • For most people, the flu vaccine should be given in September or October; however, getting the flu vaccine after October can still provide protection during flu season.

COVID-19: Everyone 6 months and older should have access and the choice to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

  • COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for:
    • All young children (6-23 months)
    • All people younger than 65 years with risk factors
    • All adults 65 years and older
    • All who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or postpartum
    • Health care workers
    • All who are in close contact with others with risk factors (including residents of LTCFs and their family members)
    • Anyone 6 months and older who chooses to reduce risk of severe illness
  • Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. Vaccination can also reduce the chances of suffering from long COVID.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are safe and hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.
  • Individuals who are 65 years and older or immunocompromised are recommended for two doses of COVID-19 vaccine 6 months apart.

RSV: Those 50 years and older who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities should receive an RSV vaccine.

  • Everyone 75 years of age and older and those who are 50-74 years of age and at increased risk of severe RSV disease, including those living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, should receive a dose of RSV vaccine.
  • RSV vaccination for adults is currently recommended once rather than annually.
  • Ideal timing for RSV vaccine is late summer or early fall, but RSV vaccine can be given year-round.

The RSV vaccine is also recommended for pregnant people at 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy during September 1 through March 1 to prevent RSV infections in infants.

  • Most infants will likely only need protection from either the prenatal RSV vaccine or infant immunization, but not both.
  • Pregnant people can receive the RSV vaccine on the same day as other vaccines recommended during pregnancy, including Tdap, flu, and COVID-19.

For vaccine guidance, education, and more, visit the LTCF resources page.