Pneumonia Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs. Pneumonia can be viral or bacterial.
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How is pneumonia spread?

Pneumonia is transmitted in the air by coughing, sneezing or talking.
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What are the symptoms?

Abrupt onset of fever, shaking chills, productive cough, pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath and rapid heart rate.
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Is pneumonia serious?

VERY serious. It is the fifth leading cause of death in adults each year. There are 500,000 cases of pneumonia each year. It is estimated that 50,000 people die each year of pneumonia- 50 percent of those deaths could have been prevented with a pneumonia vaccine injection.
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Is the pneumonia vaccine safe?

Very safe.
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Who should get the pneumonia vaccine?

  • People aged 65 or older
  • Those with serious chronic illnesses (i.e., cardiovascular disease, lung disease (not including asthma), alcoholism, liver cirrhosis, leaks of cerebrospinal fluid, diabetes)
  • Those with compromised immune systems (i.e. Hodgkin's disease, kidney failure, lymphoma, leukemia or other cancers, cancer treatment, treatment with long-term steroids, bone marrow or organ transplant, damaged or no spleen)
  • Adults with HIV/AIDS infection
  • Groups which have contact with high risk patients: health care workers, long-term care facility employees, nurses, physicians
  • Persons who provide essential community service, students, and others in institutional settings
  • People wishing to lessen their chance of getting pneumonia (discuss with your physician)
Who should NOT get the pneumonia vaccine?
Most adults can receive the pneumonia vaccine. Pregnant women should check with their physician about receiving the pneumonia vaccine.
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How often should I get a pneumonia shot?

  • 65 years and older - if this is your first immunization, you only receive it once.
  • 65 years and older - if you have received an initial immunization before you turned 65, get a booster shot after you turn 65. There should be five years between the initial shot and a booster.
  • 18-65 years - one immunization and then one booster after age 65, if five years have passed since the initial shot.

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