Why Get A Pneumonia Vaccine?

All photos: istock

Without a doubt, my family is a vaccine family. I got vaccinated as an infant ... before I could visit my Oma in Germany ... before I could start school ... and before I could visit Europe and Egypt as a university student. I'm grateful to have avoided common childhood diseases that killed previous generations. We do not remember the days when families often lost a child to measles or diphtheria.

I suspect everybody will eventually get Covid, but having been vaccinated and boosted lessens our fear of it as we now have immunities to fight the virus. My family will do everything in our power not to get Covid, and yet the virus seems to be here to stay.

My senior mother today was vaccinated against pneumonia (pneumococcal conjugate), and here's why this vaccination is a good idea, too, if you're over 65 years old or have any underlying conditions. With Covid-19 and the flu still around, this additional vaccine protects against lung-inflaming pneumonia. Seniors who get pneumonia often have a difficult time recovering from it. My mother's grandmother died of pneumonia after she fell and was bedridden.

As with other vaccines, the pneumonia vaccine can't prevent all cases, but it lessens both the chances of getting it and the severity of the disease if you do catch it.

Older adults will either be given 2 doses that give protection against different types of the infection or if you're lucky like my mom was today, you'll be given the newer single dose, the PCV20 vaccine, approved by the FDA in 2021. Studies are showing no boosters are needed for this newer vaccine. The newer PCV20 vaccine is based on the older PCV13 vaccine but lets you skip the 2nd PPSV23 dose that is needed one year after receiving the PCV13 dose. Depending on what's available in your area, expect to receive one or two shots. Be grateful for their development!

According to the CDC, the pneumonia vaccine is safe and not only effective in preventing seniors from getting pneumonia, but it [researchers followed patients given the PCV13 older shot] also protects them against other invasive pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord), bacteremia (infection of the blood), ear infections, and sinus infections. In CDC studies not only did vaccinated patients avoid pneumonia, but 75% of them also avoided meningitis and bacteremia, thus lowering their chances of being hospitalized.

Health insurance (including Medicare) covers pneumonia vaccines for seniors and people with medical conditions such as asthma. Pneumococcal diseases can be fatal, so if you are in the risk group, talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine.

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