For many years, asthma patients have been recommended to get annual flu shots in order to prevent the flu. As this year's fall season gets started, it is time to put your winter virus protection plan into effect, focused on the seasonal flu and pneumonia. These respiratory infections can be irritating and misery-inducing to most of the world, but to people with chronic respiratory disease like asthma, influenza and pneumonia can be deadly.

Getting a vaccine is the easiest way to stay healthy by preventing the flu and pneumonia from striking you this year. But with all the media hype about the "new" swine flu, it can be confusing as to just what you DO need. So, in this article, we'll take a closer look at the options.

Seasonal Flu Shots

We are now dealing with two different types of flu and flu shots -- the usual seasonal flu shot and the new swine flu vaccine, now being referred to as the H1N1 virus vaccine. Both types of flu can significantly worsen respiratory health for people with asthma. But H1N1 flu poses a greater risk to children and young adults, while seasonal flu is a greater danger for older adults. But be wary -- both flu types can infect anyone of any age.

Everyone who has asthma (or is caregiver for someone with asthma) should receive a seasonal flu shot this year (and every year), as soon as possible. You cannot get the flu from a flu shot because it is made from killed virus. Getting the shot might be a little uncomfortable at the time or for a day or two afterwards, but not getting the flu makes is worthwhile to endure a little discomfort.

Experts recommend that you get your seasonal flu shot as soon as you can, so that you can avoid catching both seasonal flu and H1N1 flu at the same time. Don't wait for the H1N1 flu shots to be available!

Swine Flu (H1N1) Shots

You can read this article by our expert, Dr. James Thompson, to get the details about H1N1 flu and flu shots.

What you need to know is that people aged 25 to 64 who have a chronic medical condition should definitely get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available, in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine. They are two different shots and cannot be combined into one syringe. Also, seasonal flu shots will likely be available sooner than the H1N1 flu shots, which are expected to be widely available by mid-October.

If you are older than 64, then check with your doctor about whether you need to get an H1N1 flu shot. It's probably still a good idea, but your risk of developing H1N1 is lower than the other age groups, even if you have asthma. Still, if vaccine remains available once the high risk groups have all been immunized, you may be eligible.

Pneumonia Shots

Pneumonia is another respiratory viral illness that threatens the health of people with asthma each year, particularly older adults. So, your doctor may recommend that you get a pneumonia shot periodically, although experts do not specifically say people with asthma need to do so. Dr. Fred Little wrote a thorough post on the pneumonia vaccine and asthma here. Pneumonia vaccines last longer than flu vaccines, so you only have to get a new one every five to 10 years (check with your doctor on timing).