Pneumonia

What is Pneumonia? (CDC.com)

Vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease, which is any type of illness caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. There are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines available in the United States:

  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or PCV13
  • Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine or PPSV23

Symptoms:

  • Cough, which may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus.
  • Fever, sweating and shaking chills.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Rapid, shallow breathing.
  • Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough.
  • Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue.


Who Should Get the Pneumonia Vaccine?

  • CDC recommends the Pneumonia Vaccine for

    • all adults 65 years or older

    • adults 19 through 64 years old who smoke cigarettes.


Vaccination Recommendations?

    • Prevnar 13 – Adults who need this vaccine only get 1 shot. The vaccine helps protect against the 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that most commonly cause serious infections in children and adults. It can also help prevent ear infections and pneumonia caused by those 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria.
    • Pneumovax23 – Doctors give a single shot of this vaccine to people who need it. CDC recommends 1 or 2 additional shots for people with certain chronic medical conditions. This vaccine helps protect against serious infections caused by 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.

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