How Much Do You Know About the Pneumonia Vaccine?
Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that is more common in older adults, infants, young children, and some people with chronic health problems. A vaccine offers protection against some forms of pneumonia. Find out more about pneumonia and the vaccine by taking this quiz, based on information from the CDC.
1. Pneumonia can be caused by viruses or bacteria.
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Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung from an infection. The most common causes are bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for the most common form of pneumonia (pneumococcal pneumonia). It can also cause infections in the blood and the brain.
2. You should get a pneumonia vaccine every year, just as you do for the flu.
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Usually one dose of pneumonia vaccine is all that is needed. This vaccine protects against pneumococcal pneumonia. The vaccine's protection usually lasts more than six years. Sometimes a booster may be needed five years after the first dose. This is true for people who were vaccinated before age 65 and for people between ages 2 and 64 who have certain chronic health problems.
3. If you've already had pneumonia, you don't need to get a vaccination.
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Experts recommend that all older adults get a pneumonia vaccination. This is true even if they have had pneumonia before. That's because there are many kinds of pneumonia. Having
one kind doesn't protect you against getting another kind.
4. Only people older than 65 should get this vaccine.
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People ages 65 and older should be have the vaccine against pneumonia, but anyone between ages 2 and 64 who has certain chronic health problems should also be vaccinated. These problems include heart disease, lung disease, sickle cell disease, and diabetes. People with a weakened immune system from Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, leukemia, kidney failure, or HIV/AIDS should be vaccinated, too. Talk with your health care provider if you believe you might be at risk.
5. The pneumonia shot can't cause pneumonia.
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That's because the vaccine is not made from whole bacteria. It is made from pieces that are not infectious. Side effects from the pneumonia shot are mild. These include some swelling and soreness at the site of the shot.
6. People 65 and older are two to three times more likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia.
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Up to 30 percent of those 65 and older who have pneumococcal pneumonia also develop bacteremia, a bacterial infection of the blood. Of those, 20 percent will die. This occurs even though they are given
antibiotics.
7. Pneumococcal pneumonia is more common in the winter.
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That's when other respiratory diseases like the common cold and the flu are also more common.
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