Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine

This form of pneumonia is caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. It is spread through extensive close contact with exchange of respiratory secretions. It can occur as a major complication of the flu or without the flu. Complications can be very serious for people with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Nasal congestion or discharge
• Ear pain
• Slow, unclear thinking

The pneumococccal vaccine can lessen the chance of getting pneumococcal pneumonia, however, it is not a substitute for the flu vaccine. It helps to protect someone from 23 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. This vaccine may be repeated in five to seven years. And it is safe to receive both the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines at the same time.

Who should receive this vaccine?

• Anyone 65 and older
• Anyone younger than 65 with
  • Serious long-term health condition
  • Heart disease
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Alcoholism
  • Chronic lung disease (COPD, emphysema, asthma)
  • Diabetes
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Smokers
  • Hodgkin's disease
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Cancer treatment
  • Transplant patients
  • Kidney failure
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Lymphoma
  • Leukemia

This information has been approved by Christopher Czaja, MD, MPH (September 2009).