Pneumonia is a potentially serious lower respiratory infection that causes the alveoli, small air sacs in the lungs, to become inflamed and fill with fluid or pus.
Pneumonia often begins with a viral or bacterial illness, such as a cold, the flu, or COVID-19, but it can also result from environmental factors and fungi.
Although pneumonia can make you sick, it isn’t necessarily inevitable. Vaccination can lower the risk of severe symptoms and protect you, your loved ones, and the community.
At Himalaya Family Medicine Clinic in Aurora, Colorado, our team offers the pneumonia vaccine to eligible patients based on age and health status. Read on to learn about the pneumonia vaccine, who should get one, and how often it needs to be updated.
The pneumonia, or pneumococcal, vaccine is a type of preventive medicine. Specifically, it’s an injection that teaches your immune system how to defend against illnesses caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.
There are two main types of pneumococcal vaccines:
This vaccine links bacterial sugars to a protein, which helps create a stronger immune response. PCV vaccines are often recommended for infants and children, as well as adults 65 or older or those with certain medical conditions that affect the immune system.
This vaccine contains sugars from 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. PPSV is typically recommended for older adults and for people with specific risk factors. It may be combined with a PCV vaccine, depending on age and health status.
We typically recommend the pneumonia vaccine to:
You may also benefit from a pneumonia vaccine if you have lifestyle or medical risk factors that increase your risk of infection.
After reviewing your health history, discussing your lifestyle, and completing a physical exam, we can make personalized recommendations.
How often you need a pneumonia vaccine depends on your age, overall health, and which pneumococcal vaccines you’ve already received. Many infants follow a specific vaccination schedule, but adult recommendations are more individualized.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all infants receive a four-dose series of pneumonia shots at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age.
For adults, vaccination guidance depends on age and underlying health conditions, with many adults receiving one or more pneumococcal vaccines after age 50 or 65.
If you’re healthy, it can be tempting to put off getting a pneumonia vaccine, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. The vaccine can’t guarantee that you won’t get sick, but it can significantly lower your risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death.
Because everyone’s needs vary, we encourage you to schedule a checkup with our caring team before moving forward. After an exam, we can tailor our recommendations to your situation.
Whether you’re the parent of a newborn who hasn’t yet been vaccinated or an adult who recently turned 50 or 65, now is the perfect time to explore the benefits of pneumococcal vaccines. Taking prompt action can help protect your lungs and general health.
To get started, call us at 303-351-1800 or book your visit online today.
