Ms. Phuong, a retired teacher living in Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, prioritizes mental acuity, citing many unfulfilled plans.

She spends most days helping her daughter manage an overseas study consultancy, handling tasks like personnel management and payroll. To support her work, she studies English for communication and document reading. In her leisure time, she learns to play piano, researches global cultures, cuisines, and infectious diseases to plan her annual travels.

Regarding her health, she opts for annual flu and pneumococcal vaccines to prevent respiratory illnesses and pneumonia. In 2025, she visited her daughter in Australia and traveled in China, completing her two doses of shingles vaccine.

Ms. Phuong receives her shingles vaccine at VNVC Hai Ba Trung. *Photo: Hoang Duong*

Meanwhile, Ms. Nga, 61, a retired doctor from Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, has been retired for five years. Free from family obligations, she actively participates in a charity group organized by friends. The group occasionally holds computer literacy classes for seniors in remote areas and cooks for orphanages and leprosy camps. To maintain her health for long trips and demanding schedules, she gets flu, pneumococcal, and shingles vaccines. She also encourages her relatives and fellow charity group members to get vaccinated.

“From my age onward, health gradually declines. Without vaccination, it’s easy to fall ill, becoming a burden on children when many others still need you,” Ms. Nga stated. She recounted witnessing a friend suffer severe flu, requiring hospitalization for pneumonia and respiratory failure, and a 72-year-old uncle bedridden with shingles after previously riding his motorbike everywhere.

Many doctors continue to contribute at the VNVC Vaccination System after retiring from public health facilities. *Photo: Hoang Duong*

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, in 2025, the average life expectancy for Vietnamese people increased to 74.8 years. For the 2026-2030 period, the health sector aims to further raise the average life expectancy to 75.5 years. However, the healthy life expectancy for Vietnamese remains low, with nearly one decade at the end of life spent battling illnesses, including multiple chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung disease, and cancer.

Dr. Bui Cong Su, Medical Manager at the VNVC Vaccination System, explained that seniors' immune systems weaken due to age and underlying conditions, making them susceptible to common diseases like flu, pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles, and chickenpox. They face a higher risk of severe complications and slower recovery, leading to prolonged treatment, increased medical burden, and higher costs.

Seniors also experience slower recovery or loss of mobility, increasing the healthcare burden and impacting their quality of life. Shingles, in particular, causes numerous complications, including increased cardiovascular events, eye damage, hearing loss, pneumonia, and meningitis. Even after the rash heals, patients can suffer prolonged nerve pain, severely affecting their quality of life.

Vaccines are available for these diseases. Seniors can visit their nearest vaccination center for advice on suitable vaccines and schedules, based on their age and vaccination history.

Seniors can continue to work, learn foreign languages, or pursue hobbies, which helps train memory and enhance social interaction. *Photo: Vecteezy*

Beyond vaccination, Dr. Su advises seniors to focus on nutrition early to ensure a balanced intake of essential nutrients, avoiding malnutrition or obesity. Regular exercise, tailored to individual fitness levels, is also crucial. During cold weather, people should engage in light indoor movement, avoiding strenuous activity or outdoor environments when temperatures drop significantly or pollution is high.

“Working, learning new languages, or pursuing new hobbies are ways for seniors to stay sharp, prevent memory decline in old age, and enhance their quality of life,” Dr. Su said.

Hue Lan