Are you 65 or older? Get vaccinations against pneumonia

Getting vaccinated against pneumonia is a good idea if you or a loved one is 65 or older — so good that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now recommends that everyone in this age group gets vaccinated against pneumonia twice.

What exactly is a pneumococcal vaccine?
A pneumococcal vaccine is an injection that protects against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal disease refers to any illness caused by pneumococcal bacteria, such as pneumonia. In fact, pneumococcal bacteria are the most common cause of pneumonia. This bacteria is also capable of causing ear infections, sinus infections, and meningitis. Adults 65 and older are among the most vulnerable to pneumococcal disease.

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available to prevent pneumococcal disease: PPSV23 (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine) and PPSV23 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) (PCV13). 

The Geriatric Society of India (GSI, 2015) recommends PCV13 and PPSV23 vaccine in India for all people over the age of 50, as well as those with the following conditions:

●Individuals over the age of 50.
●Individuals with coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and chronic renal failure (CRF).
●Immunocompromised people at high risk of pneumococcal infections, such as those with immunoglobulin deficiency, HIV infection, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's disease, non-lymphoma, Hodgkin's disseminated malignancy, or a decreased response to vaccination or a decline in serum antibody concentrations.
●Individuals who have had an organ or bone marrow transplant.
●Individuals undergoing long-term corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy.
●Individuals who have had a splenectomy, anatomic asplenia, or sickle cell disease because their blood clearance of encapsulated bacteria is reduced.
●Long-term smokers.
●Individuals who have sleep disorders.
●People who are prone to nocturnal aspiration

The Way to Better Health

Pneumonia vaccination can protect you from getting pneumonia, which is contagious and spreads through close contact. It is a lung infection that can cause a variety of pneumonia symptoms, including:

●Cough
●Fever 
●Difficulty breathing 
●Chills
●Cough with mucus

While PPSV23 and PCV13 do not protect against all types of pneumonia, the pneumonia vaccine can reduce the likelihood of severe – and potentially life-threatening – complications from the illness. Pneumonia can be extremely dangerous and even fatal for seniors. This is especially true if you suffer from a chronic condition like diabetes or COPD. Pneumonia can also develop after a history of the flu or a respiratory virus like COVID-19. It is critical to get flu shots every year, in addition to your pneumococcal vaccines.