Pneumonia - a potential complication of the flu 

The flu is a mild illness for most. However, it can cause some people to be more susceptible to developing pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening illness.  This is especially true of certain groups, such as the elderly or those with chronic health conditions.

There are vaccines available to prevent some forms of pneumonia. “The pneumonia vaccine will not keep you from getting the flu. But it is a proactive measure to protect against the serious and sometimes deadly complications that may result from any respiratory flu,” said William Heymann, M.D., medical director at DOH-Sarasota. 
 

Ask your health care provider if you should get the pneumonia vaccine.

Who should consider getting the pneumonia shot?
Usually a one-time-only pneumonia vaccine is needed for people over age 65, unless you have certain chronic conditions.  If you are in one of the following high-risk groups, ask your health care provider if you should consider getting the pneumonia shot.  (Remember, only one pneumonia shot before age 65 and one more after age 65 are required for lifetime immunity.)

• Adults 65 years of age and older;
• Any adult 19 – 64 years of age who smokes, has asthma or some other chronic respiratory complication;
• Anyone 2 - 64 years of age who has diabetes;
• Anyone 2 – 64 years of age who has a disease or condition that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, such as Hodgkin’s disease; lymphoma or leukemia; kidney failure; multiple myeloma, nephritic syndrome; HIV or AIDS, damaged spleen; or organ transplant;
• Anyone 2 – 64 years of age who is taking a drug treatment that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, such as: long-term steroids, certain cancer drugs, or radiation therapy;
• For children 2 – 18 years of age, parents should consult the child’s healthcare provider to determine if the pneumonia vaccine is right for their child. Also, pneumonia vaccine in children requires a doctor’s prescription.

Please note:  If you have no risk factors, you are advised to wait to get the vaccine until you are age 65 or older. 

I'm over 65 and I've already had a pneumonia shot.  Do I need another one?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you have had a pneumonia shot before the age of 65, you will only need one additional pneumonia shot after the age of 65 for lifetime immunity. Health officials say that there should be a minimum of five years between the two shots. It's important to ask your health care provider before getting the pneumonia shot.