When should I get a pneumonia vaccine?
- Bradford Duncan, M.D.
Question
When should I get a pneumonia vaccine?
Answer
The CDC recommends routine pneumococcal vaccination for children 5 years and under as well as adults over 50. Anyone at increased risk for pneumonia and related diseases is also advised to get vaccinated. Talk to your doctor about whether you need to be vaccinated and review the full CDC guidelines to learn more about the available vaccines.
The pneumonia vaccine helps protect you from S. pneumoniae, a bacterial germ that causes serious lung infections like pneumonia as well as blood infections and meningitis. But other types of bacteria and some viruses can also cause pneumonia. Getting vaccinated will help protect you against serious illness but won’t prevent all cases.
Side effects with this vaccine tend to be mild and last a day or two. These can include:
- Drowsiness
- Fever
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Soreness or swelling at injection site
Sign in to My Health Online and book a visit to discuss the pneumonia vaccine with your provider.