Pneumonia vaccine may help limit H1N1 flu deaths

(Los Angeles Times) UPDATED 2009-08-04

The more life-threatening consequences of the H1N1 swine flu virus are linked to pneumonia, but that the pneumonia vaccine is being underused, health officials report. Experts say there is little that can be done to stop the spread of swine flu as the school season starts, but the pneumonia vaccine, Pneumovax, may help reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with it. The vaccine works by stimulating the body's ability to knock out the bacteria responsible for many cases of pneumonia. Officials say it has the potential to prevent an estimated one-third of pneumonia-related deaths linked to the H1N1 flu virus. Read full story >

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