Should you get a pneumonia shot?
A pneumonia shot can be a real life saver.
"It's quite a good vaccine and it's recommended for people 65 and over and people with any underlying diseases that would predispose them to pneumonia," says Dr. John Swartzberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.
"What it does is, it helps prevent the serious complications of the most common bacteria to cause pneumonia in people over 40. The bacteria is called the pneumococcus and it's found in people's mouths."
But if it gets into the lungs it can make you terribly sick. Swartzberg says if you've had the flu, you are more susceptible to pneumonia.
"We call that a secondary pneumonia, secondary after the flu and that's where that pneumonia shot can really be helpful."
Everyone over 65 should get vaccinated. But you should also get the pneumonia shot if you have diabetes chronic lung disease, a compromised immune system of if you smoke.
"Smokers are very much more predisposed to pneumonia than the average population."
By the way, most people only need to get the shot once. Most people have mild or no side effect. This is covered by Medicare.
For more information
NIH: Pneumonia Vaccine
MedicineNet: Pneumococcal Vaccination
"It's quite a good vaccine and it's recommended for people 65 and over and people with any underlying diseases that would predispose them to pneumonia," says Dr. John Swartzberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.
"What it does is, it helps prevent the serious complications of the most common bacteria to cause pneumonia in people over 40. The bacteria is called the pneumococcus and it's found in people's mouths."
But if it gets into the lungs it can make you terribly sick. Swartzberg says if you've had the flu, you are more susceptible to pneumonia.
"We call that a secondary pneumonia, secondary after the flu and that's where that pneumonia shot can really be helpful."
Everyone over 65 should get vaccinated. But you should also get the pneumonia shot if you have diabetes chronic lung disease, a compromised immune system of if you smoke.
"Smokers are very much more predisposed to pneumonia than the average population."
By the way, most people only need to get the shot once. Most people have mild or no side effect. This is covered by Medicare.
For more information
NIH: Pneumonia Vaccine
MedicineNet: Pneumococcal Vaccination
