LIMA — Senior citizens in Allen County are navigating personal decisions regarding vaccinations, with pharmacists noting varying opinions on recommended flu and COVID-19 shots. At events like the Allen County’s Area Agency on Aging’s annual Fall Prevention Day on September 22, health providers observed a range of perspectives among older residents, even as public health officials continue to stress the importance of immunization.
Maxine Dillard, an 80-year-old Lima resident, recalled receiving her first polio vaccine in first or second grade, stating, “You did what the grown-ups told you to do.” Dillard, who was six years old when a second polio vaccine began gaining traction globally in the early 1960s, and her peers remember learning about the polio vaccine's instrumental role in combating severe symptoms such as respiratory issues, leg braces, or wheelchair use, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends the first dose of the polio vaccine at two months old.
Despite this historical context, Dillard now has reservations about today’s vaccines. She has not received an influenza vaccine in years and has strayed from COVID-19 boosters. Other senior women taping and stamping newsletters at the Allen County Council on Aging’s (ACCOA) building also held varying opinions, with some following doctor recommendations and others questioning medical authority to select which vaccines they receive. This local sentiment reflects a broader national discussion, where top officials like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have linked vaccines to increased chances of developing “head-banging, non-verbal autism,” and the U.S. has seen a rise in measles cases.
Katie Kirby, a pharmacist with Ohio Northern University’s (ONU) mobile clinic, administered influenza vaccines to seniors at the Fall Prevention Day event. Kirby, who began working with the mobile clinic as an intern in 2021 and transitioned to a pharmacist role this year, noted that seniors are generally “most ready to get a flu vaccine” because of their higher risk for severe cases. However, some prefer to wait until October, although the clinic begins offering flu shots after September 1 to ensure coverage through flu season. The ONU mobile clinic visits locations such as the Delphos Senior Center and the Auglaize County Council on Aging monthly, offering services like blood pressure and bone density checks, alongside flu vaccines after September 1.
Allie Gaetano, a pharmacist at the Walgreens on Bellefontaine Avenue, also administered COVID-19 and pneumonia shots at the Fall Prevention Day. Gaetano, who has worked for Walgreens for the past year and at the Bellefontaine location for about a month, observed that approximately half of seniors are willing to get the COVID-19 shot, and half are not. She believes accessibility is a factor, noting that questions often revolve around side effects rather than the decision to get vaccinated. Gaetano suggested that understanding the convenience of getting shots while picking up medication, without needing a separate doctor's visit, could help.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODOH) reported the highest number of flu hospitalizations for people aged 75 and over was 766 during this year’s peak flu season (December to February), nearly double the 409 hospitalizations for those aged 60-74. While no up-to-date Ohio statistics are available for flu vaccinations in people over 65, the United Health Foundation ranked Ohio 30th from 2024-25, with 63% of people over 65 vaccinated for the flu.
Regarding COVID-19, the ODOH indicates that the 75+ age range in Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Putnam, and Van Wert counties had the highest rate of COVID-19 vaccinations to date. Despite this, seniors still account for some of the highest numbers of hospitalizations for the disease. COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked in January 2025 at 400 for people over 75 and 189 for those aged 65 to 74. Kirby confirmed that most seniors, similar to Maxine Dillard, have received their initial one or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine but often decline boosters. Dillard noted her initial two COVID-19 vaccines, but also recalled a negative experience with the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine, saying, “I believe it’s not for everybody.”
Sarah Schroeder, a nurse at Allen County Public Health, emphasized that flu and COVID-19 vaccines are still recommended unless an individual has experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction to any vaccine component. Schroeder stated that a large majority of those hospitalized for both COVID-19 and the flu were unvaccinated. In an email, Schroeder wrote that “The decision to get a vaccine is a personal choice that should be guided by evidence-based research and a trusted medical professional.” She added that evidence shows vaccines are “one of the best tools in public health to prevent serious disease” and that the risks of vaccine-preventable diseases far outweigh any risk associated with a vaccine.
