pneumonia shot

[cynthiaG]

....The doctor on t.v. last night also recommended those with a heart condition to get a pneumonia shot..?

[Reenie]

Re: pneumonia shot

I get them. I have asthma. They're good for about 7 years. It's to guard against a particularly bad strain of pneumonia.

Reenie

[mtlieb]

Re: pneumonia shot

Reenie,

Are you speaking of the pneumococcal conjugate (PCV7) vaccine? I've been wanting to get that. There's one that they give to children and elderly now that also is supposed to be effective against ear infections. I'm wondering which one that is?

Thanks,

Jim

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: pneumonia shot

After a fun time with pneumonia 8 years ago I had the shot the next year. I will have to check on the life span of that - Some say 5 years others said it was good for life - thanks for reminding me to check on that!

Lisa

[Linda]

Re: pneumonia shot

The pneumococcal shot should be repeated in 10 yrs at most. This does not protect against all pneumonias, only pneumococcal pneumonia. This is one of the most serious with potentially devasting complications - septicemia, meningitis, etc. Linda

[Toogoofy317]

Re: pneumonia shot

If I just had a bad bought of pneumonia do I need to get the vaccine as well?

Mary s.

[Reenie]

Re: pneumonia shot

Reenie,

Are you speaking of the pneumococcal conjugate (PCV7) vaccine? I've been wanting to get that. There's one that they give to children and elderly now that also is supposed to be effective against ear infections. I'm wondering which one that is?

Thanks,

Jim

Ummmm, I dunno.... What Linda said!!! Yep, that's my answer!

Reenie

[Linda]

Re: pneumonia shot

Mary, pneumonia can be caused by many kinds of bacteria and viruses. The pneumococcal is only one kind of pneumonia, but one of the most severe. Because there is a shot available, it makes sense to protect those most likely to be compromised by this illness(chronic health probs, elderly, those who have had a splenectomy should always have it as they have lost one of their defensive organs). So, yes, you should have the pneumonia shot if you have not had it within 10 yrs. If you protect against the bacteria, Jim, I would think it would also protect against secondary infections such as an ear infection, but to my knowledge, is not given specifically for ear infections. I'm sure if anyone out there knows about a vaccine for ear infections, they will let us know. Again, this is not a substitute for the flu shot, they are very different. Linda

[BigHeart]

Re: pneumonia shot

Yearly "Flu" shots are free in Ontario as are "Pneumo 23" - Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine - which can be gotten at the same time and only needs to be repeated once every 7 years.

It is indicated for the prevention of invasive infection, such as pneumonia or meningitis, caused by those types of pneumococci contained in the vaccine.

A single dose of pneumococcal vaccine should be given to persons in the following groups at increased risk of pneumococcal disease or its complications:

Adults
1. All persons 65 years of age.
2. Adults with asplenia, splenic dysfunction or sickle-cell disease.
3. Adults with the following conditions: chronic cardiorespiratory disease, cirrhosis, alcoholism, chronic renal disease, nephrotic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, chronic cerebrospinal fluid leak, HIV infection and other conditions associated with immunosuppression (Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, immunosuppression for organ transplantation).

Children
1. Children 2 years of age with asplenia, splenic dysfunction or sickle-cell disease.
2. All children ³ 2 years of age with nephrotic syndrome, chronic cerebrospinal fluid leak, HIV infection and other conditions associated with immunosuppression.

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: pneumonia shot

Great info! Thanks!
Lisa