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I Wish I'd Asked My Doctor...Pneumonia Vaccinations
by Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C (Terri's bio)
IMPORTANT!: Please read our legal notice regarding this health column by clicking here.
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"I'm a 67-year-old woman who was vaccinated against pneumonia. Do I need to be revaccinated?"
This is an important question for all adults your age. Pneumonia and the flu together are the fifth most common cause of death in people over the age of 65 in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, revaccination is not recommended for adults over the age of 65 who received their first shot after they turned 65. If you received your first shot before your 65th birthday, then 5 years after that shot, you need a booster (a second dose) of the vaccine.
This is similar to the pneumococcal vaccine that infants receive to prevent meningitis. It prevents infection by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae in most people who receive the shot.
The pneumococcal vaccine is given to adults with diseases of the lungs or kidneys, cancer, or HIV. All adults over the age of 65 should be vaccinated.
According to the CDC, pneumococcal pneumonia results in 100,000 to 135,000 hospitalizations every year. Of those hospitalized, between 12,000 and 18,000 die. Strains of the pneumococcal bacteria are becoming resistant to penicillin, leaving doctors with fewer treatment options. Prevention is extremely important.
Make sure that you encourage friends over the age of 65 to receive this vaccination.
If you think you need a booster shot or a first time pneumococcal vaccination, please contact your doctor. Have you received your tetanus and flu shots? Ask your doctor about these important vaccinations as well.
For more information, contact the following sites:
Technical information from the Centers for Disease Control on streptococcus pneumoniae. This site includes understandable statistics.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm
The National Vaccine Program Office contains information on all vaccines for additional vaccine questions.
http://www.cdc.gov/od/nvpo
National Coalition for Adult Immunization provides facts about pneumococcal disease, vaccine safety, and facts about the pneumococcal vaccination. Facts are given as bullets.
http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/pneuadult.html
Immunization Action Coalition answers all of your vaccine questions. Answers by Dr. William Atkinson, of the CDC, cater to the health professional, but are an invaluable resource.
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2021e.htm
Have a question for Terri? Click here.
Copyright 2002, Terri L. Pilcher. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
THE CONTENT OF THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR" COLUMN IS PRESENTED IN SUMMARY FORM, IS GENERAL IN NATURE, AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT IS NOT INTENDED IN ANY WAY TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE-TO-FACE, IN-PERSON, PROFESSIONAL, MEDICAL, PSYCHIATRIC, OR PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH CARE ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION, HEALTH DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN THE "I WISH I'D ASKED MY DOCTOR…" COLUMN. Please read our full legal notice.
| About Terri L. Pilcher: Terri L. Pilcher, MSHS, PA-C is a physician assistant with a Masters of Science in Health Sciences. She has worked in the fields of family practice medicine and occupational health. Her articles have appeared in Physician Assistant and JAAPA. Currently, she stays home with her daughters and writes. Contact her at AskthePA@prodigy.net. |
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