Baltimore County health director urges older adults to get fall vaccines; clinics set Sept. 27

Dr. Lucy Wilson, director of the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services, urged older residents to get vaccinated in early fall to reduce the risk of severe respiratory illness this season.

"We recommend getting vaccinated in the early fall starting in that September time period," Wilson said, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that classifies influenza season as running from October through May and noting that cases typically pick up in October and peak in December through February.

Wilson outlined vaccines for older adults that county health staff recommend discussing with clinicians: the pneumococcal vaccine (one dose recommended for people 65 and older), the annual influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine as appropriate, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which became available for older adults in 2023. She said the county will hold a special flu clinic on Sept. 27 at the Drum Castle Government Center, 6401 York Road, and will operate a number of mobile flu clinics whose schedules will be posted on the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services website and its Facebook pages.

Pneumococcal disease and severe influenza pose disproportionate risks to older adults: Wilson said 19.7 percent of Baltimore County residents are age 65 or older and that "90 percent of influenza deaths occur in people over 60 years of age." She described pneumococcal vaccination as a single shot recommended for people 65 and older, and reiterated that influenza vaccination is an annual dose.

On RSV, Wilson said the vaccine is available for people age 60 and older. "For those who are 60 to 74, it's recommended if you're high risk for some of those diseases," she said, and added that the vaccine is "recommended for everyone over age of 75." Wilson noted the highest risks for severe RSV are among very young children, older adults, people with chronic heart or lung disease, immune suppression, and residents of long-term care settings.

Addressing practical concerns, Wilson said county staff consider it safe for adults to receive multiple routine vaccinations at the same clinic visit. "For all the, the standard adult vaccines, it's safe to receive them in the same clinic visit," she said, while acknowledging there can be special circumstances for some patients.

Wilson also promoted local outreach: the health department will staff multiple tables at the Power of Age Expo with information, hearing checks, blood pressure screenings and other services; and she directed older residents with questions to the Maryland Access Point (MAP) information line at (410) 887-2594. The interview was recorded for the Time of Your Life television program and is available on the Baltimore County government YouTube channel, the host said.

This interview provided guidance and county clinic dates; it did not announce new regulations or mandate vaccinations. Residents should consult their health care providers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for individual clinical advice.