Pneumonia Vaccine

Pneumonia is one of the dreaded diseases in the old age. Since, the immune system weakens in this age, body falls prey to various diseases. A bacterium named pneumococcus infects various organs in the human body such as brain, lungs, blood etc. The most dangerous infection comes in the form of pneumonia, which is a serious infection of lungs. Penumonia statistics says that every year half a million people are diagnosed with pneumonia, of these 50,000 die of this very disease. About 50% of the victims are in the age group of 65 and above. Unfortunately, a whopping 50% of these people could have lived, only if they had taken a vaccine for pneumonia.

Although pneumonia vaccination does not guard you against the entire spectrum of diseases induced by pneumococcus, it certainly provides you with an immunization against the most dangerous of all pneumococcal infections.

What are the Benefits of Pneumonia Vaccine

Pneumonia vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies for this bacteria. As a result, body is protected from future infections from this bacteria. It is immensely beneficial for pneumonia prevention to anyone with a compromised immune system. Since, this vaccine does not consist of live culture, it can be safely administered on children. Children with leukemia, kidney diseases, congenital heart disease are susceptible to an array of infections. Pneumonia vaccination can protect them against the worse lung infection. People above age 65 also benefit a great deal from this vaccine. People in the age group of 40 to 50 should also get themselves vaccinated to be on a safer side. Besides, children above two years suffering from chronic heart, lung or other organic disorders such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cardiomyopathy, chronic liver disease and diabetes mellitus must also be given the vaccine. Certain Native Americans and people of Alaska region are especially advised to go for pneumonia vaccine.

How Often Should You Get the Pneumonia Vaccine

The duration for which the effects of this vaccine are yet unknown. This makes it very difficult to predict when the person should take the next dose. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not have any fixed guidelines on the pneumonia vaccine frequency. Yet, it is recommended that you take this vaccine after every 5 to 10 years, if you are young. However, frequent immunization may diminish the effect of vaccine, hence many physicians advise against this. Young people may benefit from a booster dose, if they took the vaccine at an early age. If you took your first dose at 65 years or more, you should not take second dose, irrespective of how long you live thereafter. Ideally, you should consult your physician regarding the interval between two doses.

Side Effects of Pneumonia Vaccine

Similar to any other vaccine, pneumonia vaccine also induces some side effects. However, most of these side effects are not of severe consequence and subside soon. Common side effects include redness, soreness, a hard lump, swelling or pain at the site of injection. In one in a million cases, a rare condition named anaphylaxis may develop due to vaccine. Muscle pain, fever, skin rash, swollen glands, unusual tiredness or weakness are some other symptoms that may occur rarely.

Thus, a pneumonia vaccine can be your shield against this deadly infection. If you have had a bout of pneumonia before, consult your doctor before administering the vaccine. Also, people with a history of side effects should consult a physician prior to administering the second dose.